In 1918, at the close of one of the most horrific wars in modern history, the fighting officially ceased at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The day became known as Armistice Day around the world. The United States Congress officially recognized the day by making it a national holiday in 1938, but it wasn’t until 1947 in Alabama that a young WW2 veteran named Raymond Weeks called it a “National Veterans Day”.