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Veterans Day

Veterans Day
Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11 to honor military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. This holiday is a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. This year, Veterans Day is Monday, November 11, 2024


Armed Forces includes:

Army, Navy, Marine Corp, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard

History of the Holiday

Veterans Day was established to commemorate the official end of World War I, known as the “Great War”. The holiday originated as Armistice Day on its first official anniversary on November 11, 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed to signal the official end of the war after a year of truce. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars”.


In 1926, Congress passed a resolution for an annual observance of the holiday, and November 11 officially became a national holiday in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all U.S. veterans, not just the soldiers who fought in World War I.


In 1971, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October in accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. However, on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11th, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on November 11th.

A Few Facts

  1. There is a difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle or from wounds they suffered in battle. Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive. Veterans Day is intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices.

  2. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I.

  3. Veterans Day is always observed on November 11, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. The official holiday ( indicating when offices and business are closed in observance) does shift.

  4. Canada and Australia both call Nov. 11 “Remembrance Day.” Canada’s observance is similar to the U.S, except many of its citizens wear red poppy flowers to honor their war dead. In Australia, the day is more similar to our Memorial Day.

  5. On Veterans Day, the Arlington National Cemetery holds an annual memorial service to honor our U.S. veterans. Every year at exactly 11 a.m., a wreath-laying ceremony is held at the Tomb of the Unknowns in the famous cemetery. Little known fact: the Arlington National Cemetery is home to the graves of over 400,000 people, a majority of whom served in the military in some capacity.

North Penn School District
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