The History of Veterans Day
The much-anticipated end of the “Great War” or World War I came on the 11th day, the 11th month, and the 11th hour in 1918, through the signing of the “armistice,” or truce, between the Central and Allied Powers. The cataclysmic war, which was the most destructive war the world had witnessed up to that point in time, involved all of the major powers in Europe, eventually drew in the United States, and resulted in approximately 10 million combat-related casualties, caused the collapse of four empires, and entirely shaped the 20th century, thus making the modern world. November 11, 1918 was a celebrated day for the victors of the conflict and was the first step in the process of finalizing the series of treaties that would officially liquidate the war – a process that included the leadership of the United States, whose entrance into the war in 1917 signaled a tremendous shift in the fortunes of the Allied Powers and ultimately proved significant in bringing the war to an end.
According to the Congressional Research Office, it is estimated that the United States lost over 116,000 soldiers in World War I, and the first American to die on the Western Front was Corporal James Bethel Gresham who was born in McLean County, Kentucky. Gresham, whose family moved to Evansville, Indiana when he was a child, was among the first Indiana residents to join the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) and left for France in June 1917 where he died in Bethelemont on November 3, 1917. While Gresham’s remains can be found in Locust Hill Cemetery in Evansville, he, along with all of the World War I dead, are memorialized in Cenotaph Square in Indianapolis.
When the Armistice was signed at 11:00 am on November 11, 1918, of the 4 million men who were serving in the United States military, half were serving overseas, and the last of the combat units left France in September 1919. As these Veterans were headed back home, in honor of their service, and to honor the sacrifice of those who perished in the war, November 11th was declared “Armistice Day” by President Woodrow Wilson, to be observed with parades and business closures. In 1938, through a congressional act, Armistice Day officially became a legal holiday specifically to honor the veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after both World War II and the Korean War, the congressional act was amended to replace the word “Armistice” with “Veterans,” which was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Thus, November 11th became a day to honor all American Veterans for their sacrifice and service.
I know you will join me in thanking all members of our OCTC family who are Veterans, including students, staff, and faculty.
“On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.” – President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Veterans Day Proclamation, November 11, 1954
Dr. Angela Ash, a Professor of History, has been a full-time faculty member at OCTC for nearly 14 years. She is also the History Coordinator for OCTC, the Heritage Curriculum Chair for KCTCS, and the OCTC Hager Scholars Program Coordinator. In addition, Dr. Ash is president of a local non-profit, the Owensboro Area World Affairs Council, whose mission is to advance global understanding in our community. She is also a proud Veteran of the United States Navy.
