From Armistice Day to Veterans Day
Every year on November 11, communities across the United States hold parades, ceremonies, and moments of silence. Today, Americans know this holiday as Veterans Day, a time to thank everyone who has served in the United States military. However, the holiday did not start with that name or that large purpose. It began more than a century ago as a day tied to a single historic morning.
In 1918, many nations had been fighting in World War I for over four years. Millions of soldiers and civilians had died, and families around the world hoped the conflict would end. Leaders from the warring sides met in a railroad car in a French forest and signed an armistice. An armistice is not a permanent peace treaty. Instead, it is an agreement between opposing sides to stop active fighting while leaders work out the final rules for peace. This agreement took effect on the Western Front in Europe at 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918—the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
- civilians:
- People who are not members of the military or police force.
- Diplomats:
- Officials who represent their country and work out agreements with other nations.
- proclaimed:
- Announced something officially and publicly.
- commemoration:
- A ceremony or event held to honor and remember an important person or historical moment.
- expanded:
- Made larger or wider to include more people or things.
- cease-fire:
- An order or agreement to stop fighting for a period of time.
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Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Vocabulary
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Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is the main idea of the passage, and how do the details from 1918 to 1954 support it?
- 2How does the author explain the difference between an armistice and a peace treaty?
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About this explanatory article passage for Upper Elementary
“From Armistice Day to Veterans Day” is a explanatory article reading passage about The History of Veterans Day, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 4 minutes to read (544 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.