It’s perhaps the least understood and least celebrated federal holiday, but for millions of American veterans and their families, Nov. 11 – Veteran’s Day – is a solemn reminder of the sacrifices so many service men and women have made for our country.

The day’s origins stem from the date the Allied nations and Germany agreed to a temporary cease-fire on Nov. 11, 1918, leading to the end of World War I. At the time, many people believed that conflict would be “the war to end all wars,” and Nov. 11 became known as Armistice Day. In 1938, the day became a legal federal holiday, and in 1954, after World War II and the Korean War made it clear that peace was a much more complex goal, the day became known as “Veteran’s Day.”

While Memorial Day honors those who gave the ultimate sacrifice and perished during military service, Veteran’s Day pays tribute to all veterans, both living and deceased. Public observances vary from small town parades to an official wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unkowns (formerly the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) in Arlington National Cemetery.