On This Day: Armistice Celebrated Early

Armistice Day parade, Nov. 1925. East on O St from 11th Lincoln, Nebraska.

The armistice to end World War I signed at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month was greeted with great rejoicing in Nebraska towns. The state had contributed its share to winning World War I; 751 Nebraskans lost their lives in the conflict. So anxious were Nebraskans for the war to be over, that some towns celebrated victory before the peace was signed. Reports of negotiations between the U.S. and Germany led citizens of York to “jump the gun.” An account published November 8, 1918 described the mix-up:

“There was a great celebration in York yesterday afternoon. A report that the armistice had been signed . . .was published in a Lincoln sheet and a copy of the paper was carried about town and set the joy to effervescing. The whistles blew, the horns honked, the cannon crackers cracked and there was a general hurrah.

“The Associated Press failed to confirm the report, in fact it issued a statement by Secretary Lansing that the report was a bad mistake. However, the people would not believe that it was not true and celebrated in fine style.

“This paper knew the true condition of affairs, but many people would not be convinced. Some blew good money in telephoning Omaha and other points. The premature explosion could have been avoided by seeking the correct news at the place where it is received.”

Activities on November 7th were just a warm-up for the real thing four days later. The celebration began at 2:20 a.m., the hour the armistice was signed in Europe. The siren at the light plant blew until sun up, signaling festivities that would last well into the night. “Mayor Smith came downtown and gave orders that no one be allowed to sleep any more when such good news was available. The martial bands and trumpeters were out in force going up and down the street announcing the news that the greatest war in history was at an end. There was a great parade with a motor truck leading the way. The Troubadour band came out and made the early morning most interesting with their patriotic selections.

“Mayor Smith announced that there would be a hot time in this old town tonight. The people are so glad no effort is made to curtail their celebration.”

Observance of Armistice Day continued on a yearly basis, although the festivities were tame compared to the first big blow-out. In 1954, Congress changed the name of the November 11 holiday to Veterans’ Day, in honor of all who served their country in the armed forces.

 

Armistice Parade of 1922 Lincoln NE (NSHS: RG1234.PH000070-000052)

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

Earliest video of Husker football

Earliest video of Husker football

The Girls of Company Z

The Girls of Company Z

Marker Monday: World War II Hero Charles Jackson French

Marker Monday: World War II Hero Charles Jackson French

About NSHS

The Nebraska State Historical Society was founded in 1878 by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed NSHS from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director Cindy Drake. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for NSHS.

Explore Nebraska

Discover the real places and people of our past at these NSHS sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of NSHS members.

NSHS Education

Learn more about the educational programs provided at our museums, sites, and online.

Education Digital Learning Resources

Find games, lists, and more to enhance your history education curriculum.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast!

Nebraska Collections

NSHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

NSHS's Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

NSHS Services

Digital Resources

Find all of our digital resources, files, videos, and more, all in one easy-to-search page!

Support The Historical Society

Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to the Nebraska State Historical Society help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of NSHS.

Volunteers are the heroes of NSHS. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.