Veterans, elected leaders, firefighters and Boy Scouts circled around the Town of Hempstead Showmobile parked at the Merrick War Memorial in North Merrick on Wednesday to salute America's veterans.

In a brief, but emotional ceremony, the crowd of about 40 marked Veterans Day on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Veterans Day was first celebrated as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1919, as a way to remember the end of Word War I. (Hostilities in what was then the world's largest armed conflict ceased on Nov. 11, 1918, at 11 a.m.) President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day. In 1953, the celebration was renamed Veterans Day to recognize the sacrifices of all members of U.S. armed forces.