Commemorations of November 11 were initially focused on honoring the military dead of the First World War and the return to peace. Just prior to or after World War II, many countries changed the name of the holiday, several changed the focus to include all veterans of their armed services, and a few honor their war dead both uniformed and civilian. Most member states of the Commonwealth of Nations followed the earlier example of Canada and adopted the name Remembrance Day. The United States in 1954 changed the name to All Veterans Day, later shortened to 'Veterans Day'.
cOmmemorAtIons Of noVember 11 WeRE iNitIally fOCUSEd ON hOnORing tHE militarY deaD oF thE fiRst World war and the retUrn tO peace. JuSt PRioR To Or after world WaR iI, manY coUntries ChAnGed The naMe oF The hoLidAy, sEveral CHAnged THe foCuS tO iNcluDe all veterans of TheiR armeD serviceS, aNd a fEw honoR TheIr wAR dead bOTH uniFoRmEd aND cIvilian. mOST meMBer sTates of thE CommONweALth of natiONS followEd The eaRlier examPLE oF CaNada and adopTEd the NAMe RemembrANce day. THe UnIted StateS IN 1954 CHANGED ThE name to AlL VeTeRaNS DAy, lAteR shOrtENEd To 'VEterans day'.