Reflecting on North Dakotas past Veterans Day’s

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says that after the Armistice of World War I, a cease-fire went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Now Veterans Day is observed on Nov. 11.

When Sarah Walker flips through some old newspapers, they showcase some of North Dakota’s earlier Veterans Days, along with personal accounts of those who served.

“So this is a way to preserve that memory and to see in their accounts, sometimes, what they have done, and to be able to remember that. So these historic documents that we have are very important for this kind of celebration,” said Walker, Head of Reference Services at the North Dakota State Archives.

She says some of the early celebrations included speeches and parades.

“The fact that it was finally complete and that everything was done was cause for a celebration. And so people were celebrating Armistice Day for many, many years. Eventually, it became Veterans Day to encompass all of the veterans from more and continuing military actions,” said Walker.

The holiday was proclaimed in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson and became a legal federal holiday in 1938.

“As an anniversary, it was not an official holiday. Many people did celebrate it. Not all states celebrate it as an official holiday. North Dakota did pretty early on,” said Walker.

She says for North Dakotans throughout history it has been common for people to want to celebrate veterans all the time. North Dakotan’s love for veterans is apparent in the large collections at the State Historical Society.

“We have many collections honoring men and women who served in all of the military actions that have occurred since we’ve become a state. We have journals and diaries. We have the Veterans History Collection, which is an oral history collection of about 1700-1800 files,” said Walker.

She says the letters veterans sent home makeup one of their great World War I collections.

Walker adds that looking into history is a great way to honor veterans this holiday. The archives are available by appointment or by accessing the database.

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