Americans across the nation celebrated Veterans Day on November 11. The history of this national holiday begins with Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, a day when allied forces signed a cease fire agreement with Germany, signaling the end of World War I. Few people know that Armistice Day was designated Veterans Day in 1954, when Kansas Congressman Edward Rees and Alvin J. King of Emporia came to the oval office and stood behind President Eisenhower as he signed HR7786.