What is Veterans Day?
Veterans Day honours all who have served in the United States armed forces, living or dead, and it is particularly an occasion to thank living veterans. It is distinct from Memorial Day, which honours those who died in service. The main national ceremony takes place at Arlington National Cemetery, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, at 11 a.m., and parades and local ceremonies are held in many towns. The date honours living and deceased veterans alike. The honour is for all branches of the military: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force and Coast Guard.
Many restaurants and retailers offer free meals or discounts to veterans and serving military personnel. Schools often hold assemblies, and poppies are sometimes worn in a tradition shared with the Commonwealth countries, where the same date is called Remembrance Day. The date, 11 November, is the anniversary of the armistice that ended the fighting of the First World War in 1918. In the United Kingdom and Canada the corresponding day is observed with poppies and a two-minute silence. The day often includes parades, school visits by veterans and moments of silence.
Why it is observed
The day began as Armistice Day, first observed in 1919, and Congress made it a legal holiday in 1938 to honour First World War veterans. After the Second World War and the Korean War, a campaign by Raymond Weeks, a veteran in Birmingham, Alabama, and a bill introduced by Representative Edward Rees of Kansas led to legislation, and in 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill renaming it Veterans Day to honour veterans of all wars. In 1971, under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, it was moved to the fourth Monday in October, which caused confusion, and in 1978 it returned to 11 November.
How the date is set
Veterans Day in the United States is fixed on 11 November. When it falls on a Saturday, federal employees take the preceding Friday off, and when it falls on a Sunday, the following Monday.
How it is observed
Veterans Day is a federal holiday. Federal offices, banks, the post office and many schools close, but the stock markets are open and many private businesses and shops operate as usual. Public transport usually runs normally or with some changes. State practice varies, and some state offices close and others do not. A moment of silence is often observed at 11 a.m. Pay and time off depend on the employer, the state and the contract. Check whether your employer observes it. Many museums and theme parks offer free entry to veterans.
United States