An armistice between Germany and the Allied nations took effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. Armistice Day was first commemorated on November 11th, 1919, with parades, public meetings, and a brief suspension of business activities at 11 a.m. In 1926, the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I and declared that the anniversary of the armistice should be commemorated with prayer and thanksgiving, while also requesting a presidential proclamation calling for the flag of the United States to be displayed on government buildings and for the people of the U.S. to observe the day in schools, churches, or other suitable places with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other people. An act approved on May 13th, 1938, made November 11th of each year a legal holiday known as Armistice Day, originally intended to honor veterans of World War I. After World War II and later wars, Congress was urged in 1954 to change the word “Armistice” to “Veterans,” and November 11th became a day to honor all American veterans wherever and whenever they had served. Armistice Day was to be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory. The 11/11/11 display is a flower garden with 11 geraniums planted in a circle and a statue of a soldier in the middle, intended to honor veterans beginning with World War I and forward.