Veterans Day traces its history to the end of World War I, known then as the “War to End all Wars.” Today, it honors all those who served in the U.S. military.

Here’s what to know about Veterans Day 2023:

History of Veterans Day

WW I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Fighting, however, had ceased seven months earlier with an armistice between the U.S.-led Allied nations and Germany. The cessation of hostilities went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, giving us the date we still use to commemorate Veterans Day.

On June 4, 1926, Congress asked President Calvin Coolidge to issue a proclamation declaring Nov. 11 as Armistice Day. The day was made into a legal holiday on May 13, 1938.

16.2 million

That’s the number of military veterans in the U.S. in 2022, representing 6.2% of the total civilian population age 18 and older.

Alabama’s role in first Veterans Day

In 1945, World War II veteran Raynold Weeks of Birmingham proposed the idea of expanding Armistice Day to include all veterans. Weeks presented the idea to Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and then led the first national Veterans Day celebration in 1947. Then President Eisenhower signed bill renaming the holiday Veterans Day on May 26, 1954. Since then, the day has become a time to honor all those who served in the Armed forces, both in war and peace times.

In 1982, Weeks was honored by President Ronald Reagan with the Presidential Citizenship Medal. Dubbed the “Father of Veterans Day,” he led the annual parade in Birmingham until his death in 1985.

Was Veterans Day always on Nov. 11?

Not always. In 1968, the Uniform Holiday Bill was passed to change the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, a move echoing other federal holidays, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, which were changed to create three-day weekends. The change was not popular, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and in 1978, the holiday was returned to its traditional date.

1.7 million

The number of female veterans in the U.S. in 2022, representing 10.3% of the total veteran population.

Is it Veterans Day or Veteran’s Day?

According to the VA, Veterans Day with no apostrophe is the correct spelling. This is because, the agency said, the day honors all veterans and does not belong to them.

26.5%

The percentage of veterans age 75 and older in 2022. At the other end of the age spectrum, 8.5% of veterans were younger than age 35.

What’s the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?

The two holidays are often confused but commemorate different things. Veterans Day is a time to honor all those who served in the military both in war and in peace. Memorial Day is for remembering military personnel who died in service to their country, particularly those who died in battle or of wounds sustained in battle.

0.8%

The percentage of veterans in 2022 who served in World War II. Additionally, 4.1% of veterans served in the Korean War, 33.6% in the Vietnam War, 24.4% in the first Gulf War (August 1990 to August 2001), and 26.3% in the second Gulf War (September 2001 or later).

Department of Veterans Affairs and The U.S. Census Bureau contributed to this article.