The men came from cities and farms. Some were rich. Others were poor. There were doctors, lawyers, businessmen, professional athletes and college students. Many were married.
The following year, the government expanded the draft. Now it called on men between the ages of 18 and 45. More than 13 million reported for duty.
Many women joined the armed forces, too. Most got office jobs at military bases in the United States. Some, however, went to France to work as nurses in battlefield hospitals.
World War I ended when Germany surrendered at 11 o'clock in the morning on November 11, 1918 – in other words, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
The following year, President Woodrow Wilson signed a declaration to observe November 11th as Armistice Day in the United States. It would be a day to honor the men and women who had served in the American armed forces during the war.
In 1926, Congress made Armistice Day a national holiday.
But new problems were on the way. Soon, everyone knew that World War I would not be the war to end all wars.
In all, more than four million Americans served in the armed forces during the First World War. Four times that many would serve during the second.
Germany surrendered in May 1945. Japan surrendered in August of that year.
Armistice Day in 1945 was a very special day in the United States. Most of the men and women who had served in the war were home.
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