Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a United States federal holiday observed every year on November 11, honouring military veterans — the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the most solemn dates on the American calendar, and its timing carries a remarkable piece of history: the holiday marks the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I, which took effect on November 11, 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

Veterans Day has been observed in the United States since 1919, although it was initially known as Armistice Day. For its first decades, the day commemorated specifically the end of the First World War. But after the Second World War and the Korean War produced new generations of veterans, the meaning of the day was broadened: in 1954, Congress renamed it Veterans Day, so that it would honour veterans of all wars — not only those of World War I.

The history of Veterans Day

The story of Veterans Day begins in the final hours of World War I. The armistice between the Allies and Germany took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, silencing the guns after more than four years of devastating conflict that had drawn in nations across the globe. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month became one of the most famous timestamps in history.

A year after the armistice, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in 1919. Americans were asked to pause and remember the heroism of those who had served, and the day was marked with parades, public gatherings, and a brief suspension of business at 11 a.m. — the exact hour the fighting had stopped.

Armistice Day remained the name of the observance for more than three decades. But the Second World War and the Korean War changed the picture: millions of Americans had now served in conflicts far beyond the trenches of 1918, and a day honouring only the veterans of one war felt too narrow. In 1954, Congress acted, renaming the holiday Veterans Day and widening its purpose to honour everyone who has served in the United States Armed Forces, in wartime or in peacetime, in any era.

Today, Veterans Day is a federal holiday. Government offices close, and communities across the country hold parades, ceremonies, and moments of remembrance. Many observances still centre on the eleventh hour: a moment of silence at 11 a.m. echoes the exact moment the 1918 armistice took effect, linking the present day directly to the morning the guns fell silent.

How to mark Veterans Day

• Thank a veteran, and listen to their story. A personal conversation is one of the most meaningful ways to observe the day.
• Attend a Veterans Day parade, ceremony, or moment of silence in your community.
• Learn the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day — and share it. Veterans Day honours all who have served; Memorial Day honours those who died in service.
• Visit a veterans’ memorial, or place a flag at a veteran’s grave as a mark of respect.
• Teach children what the day means: why November 11 was chosen, what the armistice of 1918 ended, and why the eleventh hour matters.
• Support organisations that serve veterans and their families, today and throughout the year.
• Observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m., joining a tradition that stretches back to the first Armistice Day.

Key facts about Veterans Day

Veterans Day is observed on November 11 every year in the United States. It is a federal holiday, and it has been observed since 1919. The day honours military veterans — people who have served in the United States Armed Forces — and it marks the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I on November 11, 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

The armistice itself was the agreement between the Allies and Germany that took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day. The holiday kept that name until 1954, when — after World War II and the Korean War — Congress renamed it Veterans Day, honouring veterans of all wars rather than only those of World War I.

Why Veterans Day matters

Veterans Day matters because it sets aside a day for gratitude. It asks Americans to look beyond their daily routines and recognise the service of millions of men and women who wore the uniform — in wars remembered and in quiet peacetime postings, at home and far from home. The day’s history gives that gratitude a focus: the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, when one of history’s great conflicts came to an end, and when a tradition of remembrance began.

It matters, too, because it connects generations. A veteran of recent service and a veteran of a war decades past share the same day of honour, and the same simple message: thank you. That shared recognition, renewed every November 11, is the heart of Veterans Day — a day that began with an armistice and grew into a national promise to remember all who served.

Frequently asked questions about Veterans Day

When is Veterans Day observed?
Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11 in the United States.

Who does Veterans Day honour?
Veterans Day honours military veterans — people who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Why is Veterans Day on November 11?
The date marks the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I, which took effect on November 11, 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

What was Veterans Day originally called?
It was originally called Armistice Day. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in 1919, and Congress renamed it Veterans Day in 1954.

What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
Veterans Day honours all who have served in the Armed Forces, while Memorial Day honours those who died in service.

Read more about November 11 on November 11 Holidays, Observances and History.