Veterans Day originally began as Armistice Day, a 1919-into-1920-era observance in the United States to commemorate the end of World War I. The end of fighting on November 11, 1918 (the armistice that paused hostilities) is the key moment, and the date was chosen to honor those who served in that war. Over time, after World War II and the Korean War, the observance broadened to honor all veterans, not only those who fought in World War I, and in 1954 the holiday was officially renamed Veterans Day to reflect this broader purpose.