ARMISTICE

ARMISTICE

A suspending or cessation of hostilities between belligerent nations or forces for a considerable time. An armistice differs from a mere “suspension of arms” in that the latter is concluded for very
brief periods and for local military purposes only, whereas an armistice not only covers a longer period, but is agreed upon for political purposes. It
is said to be general if it relates to the whole area of the war, and partial if it relates to only a portion
of that area. Partial armistices are sometimes
called truces but there is no hard and fast distinc-
tion.
Armistice Day originated as a day set aside
by the United States, Great Britain, and France
to commemorate the signing of the armistice on
November 11, 1918, that brought an end to
WORLD WAR I.After WORLD WAR II, it became a
day for tribute to those who lost their lives in
that conflict as well. In Canada, it became
known as Remembrance Day, and in Britain the
Sunday closest to November 11 was declared
Remembrance Sunday to honor the dead of
both world wars. In 1938, the day was made a
federal holiday in the United States.

In 1954, after the KOREAN WAR, President DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER signed an act of Congress (5 U.S.C.A. § 6103 (a) [1995]) to change the name of the holiday to Veterans Day “to
honor veterans on the eleventh day of November of each year . . . a day dedicated to world peace.” Thus, Veterans Day now honors all U.S.
veterans of all wars. From 1971 to 1977, the holiday was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October, but in 1978, the traditional date of November 11 was restored.
Veterans Day celebrations in towns and
cities in the United States usually include
parades, speeches, and floral tributes placed
on soldiers’ graves or memorials, with special
services held at the Tomb of the Unknown
Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, in
Arlington, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C.
Group naturalization ceremonies, in which
individuals are made citizens of the United
States, have also become part of Veterans Day