- Veterans Day is on November 11. Federal offices close that day, or on the nearest weekday when the day falls on a weekend.
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- The date marks the armistice that halted World War I fighting at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.
- Armistice Day officially became Veterans Day on June 1, 1954, expanding the holiday to honor American veterans of all wars.
- From 1971 through 1977, the holiday moved to the fourth Monday in October. A 1975 law returned it to November 11, starting in 1978.
This article explains how the November 11 date works, including what happens when it falls on a weekend. It covers why that date was chosen and how a World War I remembrance grew into a national day for every veteran. It also explains what sets the holiday apart from Memorial Day, and why its meaning reaches the families who serve alongside veterans.
Veterans Day falls on November 11 every year, honoring the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. The date has its roots in the end of fighting in World War I, when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany took effect on November 11, 1918.
There’s more to the holiday’s history, including how it began, how it differs from Memorial Day, and how it’s observed today.
We’ll explore the following:
- When is Veterans Day each year?
- Why is Veterans Day on November 11?
- What is the history of Veterans Day?
- What does Veterans Day mean for military and veteran families?
- How is Veterans Day different from Memorial Day?
- How is Veterans Day observed across the country?
- How can you honor veterans and their families on Veterans Day?
- Frequently asked questions
Veterans Day honors everyone who served, along with the families who served beside them. Since 1925, VFW National Home has helped military and veteran families build long-term stability through its Michigan campus and programs nationwide.
Donate to Support Veteran FamiliesWhen is Veterans Day each year?
Veterans Day falls on November 11 every year, though the day of the week changes. Federal offices generally close for the holiday, and the national Veterans Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery takes place on the morning of November 11, no matter what day it falls on.
- Monday through Friday: federal offices close on November 11.
- Saturday: offices close the day before, Friday, November 10.
- Sunday: offices close the day after, Monday, November 12.
In every case, the holiday and its ceremonies stay on November 11.
Why is Veterans Day on November 11?
Veterans Day falls on November 11 because of how World War I ended. Fighting between the Allied nations and Germany stopped when an armistice took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. That was the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
That moment became the symbolic end of what people then called “the Great War,” and Americans chose to mark its anniversary. The timing still shapes the day, which is why the national ceremony at Arlington begins at 11 a.m.
What is the history of Veterans Day?
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, first commemorated on November 11, 1919, to mark the end of fighting in World War I. After World War II and the Korean War, Congress changed its name to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor American veterans of all wars. In 1968, Congress passed a law moving the holiday to the fourth Monday in October. After the change caused confusion and faced widespread opposition, the original November 11 date was restored in 1978.
The holiday’s full history unfolded through these milestones:
- 1919: President Woodrow Wilson proclaims the first commemoration of Armistice Day.
- 1926: Congress passes a concurrent resolution recognizing November 11. By then, 27 states had already made it a legal holiday.
- 1938: A federal act makes November 11 a legal holiday known as Armistice Day.
- 1947: World War II veteran Raymond Weeks leads the National Veterans Day in Birmingham, Alabama, to honor all veterans. He’s later called the “Father of Veterans Day.”
- 1954: Legislation approved on June 1 replaces “Armistice” with “Veterans” in the law. On October 8, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issues the first Veterans Day proclamation.
- 1968: The Uniform Monday Holiday law moves Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, creating three-day weekends for federal workers.
- 1971: The first Monday observance, held October 25, causes widespread confusion. Many states keep November 11 anyway.
- 1975: President Gerald Ford signs a law restoring the November 11 date, effective in 1978.
What does Veterans Day mean for military and veteran families?
For military and veteran families, Veterans Day honors service the whole household shares. The U.S. was home to roughly 18.3 million living veterans as of 2023, and many of them served with spouses and children at home. While in uniform, military families move every two to three years on average, and children change schools and support networks with each move.
That shared service is formally recognized, too. In recent years, presidents have proclaimed November National Veterans and Military Families Month, describing these families as people who “serve and sacrifice to answer our Nation’s call to duty.”
A month of recognition matters, but the realities of military family life don’t end when November does, which is why VFW National Home has supported these families year-round since our founding in 1925. Through our nationwide programs, we help families navigate the VA benefits they’ve earned. On our Michigan campus, families work toward lasting stability through a structured, phase-based program.
How is Veterans Day different from Memorial Day?
The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day is:
- Memorial Day, observed the last Monday in May, honors those who died while in military service.
- Veterans Day thanks everyone who served honorably, in wartime or peacetime, and is largely meant for living veterans.
| Veterans Day | Memorial Day | |
| Date | November 11 | Last Monday in May |
| Who it honors | Everyone who served honorably | Those who died in service |
| Focus | Gratitude for service | Remembrance of the fallen |
How is Veterans Day observed across the country?
The centerpiece is the national ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, held every November 11. It begins at precisely 11 a.m. with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The program then continues in the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans organizations and remarks from leaders.
The ceremony is hosted by the Veterans Day National Committee, which is chaired by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and includes more than 40 veteran-serving organizations. The committee also recognizes regional observances across the country that serve as model events for honoring veterans.
How can you honor veterans and their families on Veterans Day?
Honoring veterans can be as simple as showing up to a local ceremony or as lasting as preserving a veteran’s story for future generations. The most meaningful gestures recognize the whole military family, and many continue well past November 11.
On November 11:
- Attend a ceremony or parade. Local observances take place nationwide, and the national ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery has been livestreamed in recent years.
- Fly the American flag. The U.S. Flag Code lists Veterans Day among the days for display.
- Thank the whole family. Military spouses and children share in the service, and their part deserves to be celebrated as well.
Beyond the day:
- Preserve a veteran’s story. The Veterans History Project collects firsthand accounts and archives them at the Library of Congress.
- Leave a lasting tribute. A personalized tribute brick honors a veteran or loved one on VFW National Home’s Eaton Rapids campus.
- Give year-round. A recurring monthly gift supports military families long after the holiday.
Gratitude means the most when it lasts. Every gift to VFW National Home helps military and veteran families build stable, independent lives, through structured support on campus and resources nationwide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Veterans Day spelled with an apostrophe?
No. The correct spelling is “Veterans Day”, with no apostrophe. According to the VA, the day doesn’t belong to veterans – it’s a day set aside to honor all of them.
Do schools and businesses close on Veterans Day?
It depends. Federal closures are set by OPM, but state and local governments decide for themselves, including school districts. Private businesses do the same. Families should check their district’s calendar.
Is mail delivered on Veterans Day?
No. Post offices close, and residential and business deliveries resume the next day. Priority Mail Express is the one exception!
Do other countries mark November 11?
Not by that name, but several countries hold similar observances in November. Canada and Australia observe Remembrance Day on November 11, and Great Britain observes its Remembrance Day on the Sunday nearest that date. Canada’s observance is quite similar to the U.S. holiday, while Australia’s is closer to America’s Memorial Day.
Are red poppies a Veterans Day tradition?
In the U.S., poppies are traditionally a Memorial Day symbol honoring those who died in service. The custom traces back to John McCrae’s 1915 World War I poem, “In Flanders Fields.” Veterans service organizations such as the VFW and The American Legion distribute poppies annually on Memorial Day.
Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?
Yes – Veterans Day is one of the legal public holidays set in federal law, and it appears every year on the official federal holiday schedule.
