Although the armistice that effectively ended World War I was signed on Nov. 11, 1918, whether or not the holiday — Veterans Day — that eventually grew out of the armistice would be held on its anniversary has not always been clear.

Congress passed a resolution in 1926 to authorize the president to mark the anniversary of the armistice, though Armistice Day didn't become an official holiday until 1938, according to the House of Representative's history website.

In 1966, 12 years after Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans, President Johnson signed into law a bill that moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October.

Photos: The original Armistice Day

It wasn't a popular action. Most states ignored the official holiday, preferring Nov. 11 as the traditional observance.

By 1975, Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo., led an effort that enjoyed wide support throughout the House to return the Veterans Day observance to Nov. 11.

"I believe there is still room for tradition in this society, even as we race forward toward the 21st century," said Rep. Dominick Daniels, D-N.J. "A tradition we must keep alive is the setting aside of a single day each year to honor the veterans of this nation. And this day should remain the same, and should not be changed around to suit some arbitrary holiday schedule," according to the House website.

The bill passed, was signed into law and went into effect in 1978.

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