Through the advocacy of Alvin King of Emporia, Kansas, the name of this federal holiday was changed in 1954.
- Armistice Day to Veterans Day
- Decoration Day to Memorial Day
- Fourth of July to Independence Day
- Washington’s Birthday to Presidents Day
Through the advocacy of Alvin King of Emporia, Kansas, the name of this federal holiday was changed in 1954.
Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Armistice Day was observed on November 11 because the Armistice ending the fighting of World War I went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. After World War II and the Korean War, King felt the holiday should honor all veterans. He lobbied his congressional representative, Ed Rees, who sponsored a bill which President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law.