Veterans Day quick facts
- For seven years, from 1971 to 1977, Veterans Day was held on a Monday in October instead of 11 November.
- The first celebration called Veterans Day was organised by a World War II veteran, Raymond Weeks, in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947.
- By 1926, 27 states had already made 11 November a holiday, twelve years before the whole country did.
- The 1938 law that created the national holiday dedicated it to the cause of world peace.
- About 1.7 million US veterans were women in 2024, roughly one veteran in every nine.
A note before you start: Veterans Day is about people who served their country, and some of them served in wars. Some were hurt, and some died. Parts of this guide may feel sad, and that is a normal way to feel. If anything worries you, talk to a parent, a teacher or another grown-up you trust. You do not have to carry a question on your own.
What is Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is a national holiday in the United States. It honours everyone who has served in the country’s armed forces, in wartime or in peacetime.
A veteran is someone who has served in the military. Some served for a few years and then went back to ordinary jobs. Others served for decades. Many never fought in a war at all.
The US Department of Veterans Affairs, usually called the VA, looks after veterans for the government. It says the day is for thanking all who served honourably. Above all, it is meant to thank veterans who are still alive.
Veterans Day is always on 11 November, whatever day of the week that turns out to be. In 2026 it falls on a Wednesday.
It is a federal holiday, so most people who work for the national government have the day off. Schools and local governments decide for themselves whether to close. So do shops and other businesses. That is why some children stay at home on Veterans Day while others go to school as usual.
The United States is not the only country that marks 11 November. Canada and Australia call it Remembrance Day.
Why 11 November? The 1918 Armistice
The date comes from the end of the fighting in World War I. At the time, people called it the Great War.
An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting. The armistice between the Allied nations and Germany came into force at 11am on 11 November 1918. That is why people talk about the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
The war did not officially end that day. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in France on 28 June 1919, did that seven months later. Still, 11 November 1918 is the date most people treat as the end of the war, because that is when the guns stopped.
People hoped it had been “the war to end all wars”. That hope explains a lot about how the first holiday was planned.
How the first Armistice Day was kept
One year later, in November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day. He wrote that Americans would think of it with “solemn pride” in the heroism of those who died, and with gratitude.
The plan was simple. There would be parades and public meetings. At 11am, businesses would stop work for a short time.
Some states did not wait for the national government. By 1926, the lawmakers of 27 states had already made 11 November a legal holiday.
That year, on 4 June 1926, Congress passed a resolution about the day. It asked the President to have the flag flown on all government buildings on 11 November. It also invited people to mark the day in schools and churches, with ceremonies of friendship towards other nations.
Twelve years later came a proper law. Approved on 13 May 1938, it made 11 November a legal holiday across the country. It said the day should be dedicated to “the cause of world peace”. The name stayed Armistice Day, and the day mainly honoured veterans of World War I.
Notice what the first holiday was for. It was about peace as much as war.
How Armistice Day became Veterans Day
The Great War did not end all wars. Only a few years after Armistice Day became law, war broke out in Europe again.
About 16.5 million Americans took part in World War II. That is more people than all the veterans living in the United States in 2024. Soon afterwards, American forces also served in the Korean War. A day named after the end of World War I no longer seemed to include them all.
One veteran acted early. In 1947, in Birmingham, Alabama, a World War II veteran named Raymond Weeks organised a “National Veterans Day”. It had a parade and other events, and it honoured all veterans, not only those of one war. The VA calls it the first celebration to use the name Veterans Day.
Later, Edward Rees, a member of Congress from Kansas, proposed a bill to change the holiday’s name. Veterans’ groups urged Congress to agree.
Congress did. The 1938 law was changed by striking out the word “Armistice” and putting “Veterans” in its place. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it, and it was approved on 1 June 1954. From then on, 11 November honoured American veterans of all wars.
On 8 October 1954, Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation. In it he set up a Veterans Day National Committee to plan the day across the country. That committee still exists.
Raymond Weeks was not forgotten. In November 1982, President Ronald Reagan gave him the Presidential Citizens Medal. His parade in Birmingham became a yearly event.
The years Veterans Day moved to October
For seven years in the 1970s, Veterans Day was not on 11 November at all.
On 28 June 1968, a law called the Uniform Holiday Bill was signed. It moved four national holidays to Mondays, so that government workers would get three-day weekends. The four were Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Columbus Day and Washington’s Birthday, often called Presidents’ Day.
Supporters hoped long weekends would encourage travel and days out, and help business too. Veterans Day went to the fourth Monday in October.
The first Veterans Day under the new law fell on 25 October 1971. The VA says it was held “with much confusion”. Many states did not agree with the change and kept their holiday on 11 November anyway.
It soon became clear that the date itself mattered to a great many people. So on 20 September 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a new law. It returned Veterans Day to 11 November, starting in 1978.
Most state lawmakers wanted the change, and so did every major veterans’ group. So did most Americans. The day has been on 11 November ever since.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1918 | The Armistice stops the fighting of World War I at 11am on 11 November |
| 1919 | President Wilson proclaims the first Armistice Day |
| 1926 | Congress passes a resolution about the day; 27 states already hold a holiday |
| 1938 | A law makes 11 November a legal holiday called Armistice Day |
| 1947 | Raymond Weeks holds a “National Veterans Day” in Birmingham, Alabama |
| 1954 | The name changes to Veterans Day on 1 June; Eisenhower’s first proclamation follows on 8 October |
| 1968 | The Uniform Holiday Bill moves the day to a Monday in October |
| 1971 | The first October Veterans Day, on 25 October |
| 1975 | President Ford signs the law that moves it back |
| 1978 | Veterans Day returns to 11 November |
Every change in that table started with people. Veterans, states and ordinary citizens pushed for the name and the date they wanted, and the law followed.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
On 11 November 1921, an unknown American soldier from World War I was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. Nobody knew his name. That was the whole point.
The cemetery lies on a hillside above the Potomac River, looking across to Washington, D.C. His grave became the place where the nation showed its respect for veterans.
Two other countries had already done something similar, also on 11 November. France buried an unknown soldier beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. England chose Westminster Abbey in London.
In 1958, on Memorial Day, two more unknown servicemen were buried beside him. One had served in World War II and the other in the Korean War. In 1984, an unknown serviceman from the Vietnam War was placed there too.
The Vietnam serviceman did not stay unknown. In 1998 he was identified as Air Force First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie, and he was moved to be buried elsewhere.
Because more than one unknown serviceman lies there, the VA calls it the Tomb of the Unknowns. Many people still say the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Either way, the unknowns stand for all Americans who gave their lives in every war.
Soldiers of the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard, keep watch over the Tomb. They guard it day and night.
The 11am ceremony at Arlington
The national Veterans Day ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery every year on 11 November. In 2026 that means Wednesday 11 November.
It begins at exactly 11am, the same hour the fighting stopped in 1918. A colour guard, a small team that carries flags, stands at the Tomb. Its members come from every branch of the military. Together they give the salute called Present Arms.
Next, a wreath from the President is laid at the Tomb of the Unknowns. It is the nation’s tribute to those who died in its wars. Then a bugler plays the short, slow tune called Taps.
After that, the ceremony moves inside the Memorial Amphitheater. Veterans’ organisations carry their flags in a parade of colours, and leaders give speeches. The VA says the whole ceremony is meant to honour and thank everyone who has served.
Most towns are a long way from Arlington. Across the country, people hold parades and ceremonies of their own on or near 11 November.
You can join in from wherever you are. Stop for a moment at 11am. The very first Armistice Day plan asked people to pause at that hour, and the idea still works.
How Veterans Day Got Its Name and Date
- The first Armistice Day President Wilson proclaims a day of parades, public meetings and a short pause from work at 11am.
- A resolution Congress asks for the flag to fly on government buildings on 11 November, and 27 states already keep a holiday.
- A national holiday A law makes 11 November a legal holiday across the country, dedicated to the cause of world peace.
- Birmingham, Alabama Raymond Weeks, a World War II veteran, holds a National Veterans Day with a parade for all veterans.
- A new name The word Armistice is swapped for Veterans, and President Eisenhower signs the change.
- An October holiday Under the Uniform Holiday Bill, Veterans Day moves to the fourth Monday in October.
- Back to 11 November After a law signed by President Ford, Veterans Day returns to its original date.
Veterans Day vs Memorial Day
Many people mix up these two holidays. The VA says so itself.
Memorial Day is for remembering and honouring people who died while serving in the military. It falls on the last Monday in May. In 2026 that was 25 May.
Veterans Day is for thanking everyone who served, in war or in peace. Those who died are remembered too. But the VA says the day is mainly meant to thank living veterans.
| Veterans Day | Memorial Day | |
|---|---|---|
| When | 11 November, every year | The last Monday in May |
| In 2026 | Wednesday 11 November | Monday 25 May |
| Who it is for | Everyone who served, especially living veterans | People who died while serving |
| Poppies | Not traditionally worn | Traditionally worn |
| Main feeling | Thanks | Remembering |
Here is a simple way to keep them apart. Memorial Day remembers those who died. Veterans Day thanks all those who served.
Poppies are another clue. In the United States, the VA says poppies are traditionally worn on Memorial Day, not Veterans Day. The custom comes from “In Flanders Fields”, a poem John McCrae wrote in 1915. In Canada, many people wear red poppies on 11 November instead.
Other countries give 11 November their own meaning. The VA says Canada’s Remembrance Day is a lot like Veterans Day, because it honours everyone who served. Australia’s Remembrance Day is closer to Memorial Day, a day to honour those who died.
America’s veterans today
About 15.7 million veterans lived in the United States in 2024, according to the US Census Bureau. That is 5.9% of all adults, or roughly one grown-up in every 17.
About 1.7 million of them were women (2024). That is about one veteran in every nine.
Veterans come from many different times. The table shows the share of veterans who served in each period, using the Census Bureau’s figures for 2024.
| When they served | Share of US veterans (2024) |
|---|---|
| World War II | 0.4% |
| Korean War | 2.9% |
| Vietnam War | 31.3% |
| Persian Gulf War | 25.5% |
| Since September 2001 | 29.9% |
Almost three veterans in ten served in the years since the 9/11 attacks in September 2001. Fewer than one in 200 served in World War II.
Many veterans are older people. In 2024, 29.1% were aged 75 or over. At the other end, 8.4% were under 35. A veteran might be your great-grandparent. A veteran might also be the young teacher down the corridor.
These numbers change every year, which is why each one carries its date.
The people who help veterans
Veterans Day is a thank-you. But many people work all year round to look after veterans and to make the day happen.
At the top is the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the head of the VA. Since 1989, when the VA became one of the government’s top departments, the Secretary has chaired the Veterans Day National Committee.
The committee is made up of almost 50 organisations that serve veterans. Together they plan the national observance. Each year the VA and the committee also choose a Veterans Day poster that tells the story of service. Copies go out every September to schools, the military and veterans’ groups.
Veterans’ groups help too. Two of them are the Veterans of Foreign Wars and The American Legion. The VA says a number of these groups hand out poppies each Memorial Day.
The VA also picks out some local Veterans Day events as regional sites. These are ceremonies it thinks other towns could learn from when they plan their own.
Then there are helpers you probably know already. Families keep things going at home while someone serves. Teachers plan assemblies. Neighbours line the street to cheer at a parade. Every one of them is part of the thank-you.
Who Helps on Veterans Day
- The Old Guard — Keeps watch over the Tomb of the Unknowns day and night
- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs — Chairs the Veterans Day National Committee
- The Veterans Day National Committee — Groups that plan the national observance together
- Edward Rees — Proposed the bill to rename Armistice Day
- The VFW and The American Legion — Veterans' groups that hand out poppies on Memorial Day
How you can say thank you
You do not need to know a veteran to take part. None of these ideas costs anything.
- Go to a Veterans Day parade with a grown-up. When 11 November falls on a weekday, many towns hold their parade on the weekend before or after, so more people can come.
- Stop for a moment at 11am on 11 November and think about the people who served.
- Help a grown-up fly the American flag at home. Back in 1926, Congress asked for the flag to fly on government buildings on this day.
- Make a thank-you card for a veteran you know, or for a local veterans’ group.
- Ask a relative who served whether they would like to share a story. Some veterans love to talk about it. Others would rather not, and that is their choice.
If someone in your family serves now, Veterans Day can bring up big feelings. You might feel proud, worried or both at the same time. That is normal. Talk to a grown-up you trust about anything on your mind.
Three things people get wrong
1. Veterans Day is for remembering people who died in war. That is Memorial Day. Veterans Day thanks everyone who served, in war or in peace. The VA says it is largely meant to thank living veterans, and to show that all who served made sacrifices, not only those who died.
2. It is spelled “Veteran’s Day”. The official name has no apostrophe. The VA explains that the day does not belong to veterans. It is a day for honouring all veterans, so it is simply Veterans Day.
3. Veterans Day always falls on a Monday. It is always on 11 November, whatever the day of the week. Only from 1971 to 1977 did it move to a Monday in October. When 11 November lands on a Saturday, as it will in 2028, most federal workers get the Friday before off. When it lands on a Sunday, they get the Monday after.
Did you know? Each year the VA and the Veterans Day National Committee choose an official Veterans Day poster. The 2026 poster puts the modern American flag beside an early American flag to mark the country’s 250th anniversary, and it is the cover of the programme for the ceremony at Arlington.
Try it
Design your own Veterans Day poster. Fold a sheet of paper in half. On one side, draw something that shows service, such as a flag or a uniform. On the other, write a short thank-you message in your own words. If you know a veteran, give it to them with a grown-up, or put it in your window on 11 November.
Knowledge check
What is a veteran?
Show answer
A veteran is someone who has served in the armed forces. Veterans Day honours all of them, whether they served in wartime or in peacetime.
What happens at 11am on 11 November at Arlington National Cemetery?
Show answer
The national Veterans Day ceremony begins. A colour guard gives the salute called Present Arms, a wreath from the President is laid at the Tomb of the Unknowns and a bugler plays Taps.
Frequently asked questions
Why do we celebrate Veterans Day?
Americans celebrate Veterans Day to thank everyone who has served in the armed forces, in war or in peace. The US Department of Veterans Affairs says the day is largely meant to thank living veterans for their service.
What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
Memorial Day, on the last Monday in May, honours people who died while serving in the US military. Veterans Day, on 11 November, thanks everyone who served, especially veterans who are still alive.
When is Veterans Day in 2026?
Veterans Day in 2026 is on Wednesday 11 November. Veterans Day is always held on 11 November, whatever day of the week that is, and it is a federal holiday.
Why is Veterans Day on 11 November?
Veterans Day is on 11 November because the armistice that stopped the fighting of World War I came into force at 11am on 11 November 1918. The day was first kept as Armistice Day in 1919.
What was Veterans Day called before 1954?
Veterans Day was called Armistice Day until 1954. Congress changed the name so that the holiday would honour American veterans of all wars, not only those of World War I.
Is Veterans Day spelled with an apostrophe?
No. The official name, Veterans Day, has no apostrophe. The US Department of Veterans Affairs explains that the day does not belong to veterans but is a day for honouring all veterans.
How many veterans are there in the United States?
The US Census Bureau counted about 15.7 million veterans in the United States in 2024, which was 5.9% of all adults. About 1.7 million of those veterans were women.
Sources
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: history of Veterans Day — the 1918 Armistice and the Treaty of Versailles, Wilson’s 1919 proclamation, the 1926 resolution, the 1938 law, the 1954 change of name, the 1968 Uniform Holiday Bill, 25 October 1971 and the 1975 law returning the day to 11 November in 1978
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: the origins of Veterans Day — the 1921 burial of the Unknown Soldier, the later unknowns and the Old Guard, Raymond Weeks and Edward Rees, and the order of the 11am ceremony at the Tomb
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Day facts and information — the spelling without an apostrophe, Veterans Day versus Memorial Day, poppies, weekend parades, who decides on closures, and Remembrance Day in Canada and Australia
- US Department of Veterans Affairs: Veterans Day — the national ceremony at Arlington at 11am on 11 November 2026, the Veterans Day National Committee, regional sites and the 2026 poster
- US Census Bureau: Veterans Day 2025 facts for features — the number of US veterans, women veterans, periods of service and ages, all for 2024
- US Office of Personnel Management: federal holidays — the 2026 dates of Veterans Day and Memorial Day, and the Friday or Monday off when a holiday falls at a weekend
Veterans Day Quiz
- What is an armistice?
- What cause did the 1938 law dedicate Armistice Day to?
- Which president issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation, in October 1954?
- Why did a 1968 law move Veterans Day to a Monday in October?
- Which president signed the law that returned Veterans Day to 11 November?
- Why does the VA call it the Tomb of the Unknowns?
- In the United States, on which holiday are poppies traditionally worn?
- According to the VA, which country has a Remembrance Day that is a lot like America's Veterans Day?
- Why do many towns hold their Veterans Day parade at a weekend?
- When 11 November falls on a Saturday, which day do most federal workers get off?
- If Veterans Day makes you worried about someone in your family who serves, what is a good thing to do?
