Tuesday is Veterans Day.

World War I — known at the time as “The Great War” — officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919 in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France.

However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918 is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars,” according to a history of Veterans Day compiled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m., according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Tuesday’s Veterans Day schedule in Austin includes an invitation to all veterans to have breakfast at local public schools, beginning at 7:30 a.m.

American Legion Post No. 91 will serve stew to all veterans at noon.

Sue Register, Mel Flicek and Norm Hecimovich will coordinate the flag retirement ceremony, beginning at 3 p.m. in the parking lot outside Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1216.

Local Boy Scouts of America members will be joined by Cub Scouts of America in the flag disposal activities.

Hecimovich, a past commander of Post No. 1216, will conduct an MIA/POW ceremony at the post headquarters, beginning at 4 p.m.

The VFW post will host an evening meal for all veterans beginning at 4:15 p.m.