Veterans Day - November 11, federal status, and how it differs from Memorial Day
Veterans Day on November 11 is a US federal holiday honoring all who served in the US armed forces, living or deceased. Originally Armistice Day (1919, 1938), renamed Veterans Day in 1954. One of 11 federal holidays under 5 U.S.C. 6103.
Next observed in US - Veterans Day
Civic memorialPublished October 10, 2026
- Observed in
- Where observed
- When
- November
- Frequency
- Same date every year
- Days off
- 1 day - some jurisdictions give time off
- Public status
- Memorial / civic observance - half-mast on government flags
Veterans Day on November 11 is the US federal holiday honoring all who served in the US armed forces, living or deceased. It is one of 11 federal holidays under 5 U.S.C. section 6103, originally established as Armistice Day in 1919 and renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
The one-line summary
US federal holiday on November 11 honoring all US military veterans, living or deceased. Originated as Armistice Day marking the 1918 end of WWI fighting. Unlike Memorial Day, it is a fixed-date holiday and honors a broader population.
Origin
Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day, proclaimed by President Wilson in 1919 to mark the armistice that ended fighting on the Western Front at 11:00 AM on November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). Congress made Armistice Day a federal holiday in 1938, dedicated to World War I veterans.
After World War II and the Korean War, Congress renamed the holiday Veterans Day in 1954 (effective 1955), broadening it to honor all US veterans. In 1968 the Uniform Monday Holiday Act attempted to move Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October (creating a long weekend), but Congress reversed this in 1975 and returned the holiday to its fixed date of November 11, beginning in 1978.
How it is observed
Morning: ceremonies at veterans memorials, VFW and American Legion posts, and national cemeteries. The President traditionally lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery at 11:00 AM, marking the symbolic moment of the 1918 armistice. Midday: parades in most major US cities. Afternoon and evening: dinners and benefit events; many restaurants and businesses offer free meals or services to veterans.
Legal status
Veterans Day is one of 11 federal holidays under 5 U.S.C. section 6103. Federal employees, USPS, the Federal Reserve, NYSE, NASDAQ, and most banks close. Most schools and many businesses close. Retail is largely open; Veterans Day is a major sales promotion period for many US retailers.
History: from Armistice Day to Veterans Day
Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day, proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson on November 11, 1919 to mark the first anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I on the Western Front. The date commemorates the ceasefire signed in a railway carriage in Compiegne, France on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.
In 1938, Congress made November 11 a federal holiday dedicated to the cause of world peace and honoring World War I veterans. After World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd Congress passed legislation (signed by President Eisenhower on June 1, 1954) renaming the holiday Veterans Day and broadening its scope to honor all US veterans of all wars. The name change took effect in 1954.
In 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday of October, effective 1971. The change was unpopular: veterans organizations objected that the historical date - and the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month - had its own meaning that should be preserved. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed legislation returning Veterans Day to November 11, effective 1978.
Free meals and discounts
It is a long-standing tradition for US restaurants, especially national chains, to offer free meals to veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day. Applebee's, Chili's, Golden Corral, IHOP, Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, Red Lobster, and Starbucks have run annual programs. Free meals are typically restricted to those with military ID, and often include spouses on some days (notably Military Spouse Appreciation Day in May).
Retailers including Home Depot, Lowe's, and many national parks offer free admission or discounts on or around Veterans Day. Some auto dealerships offer preferred pricing on cars to veterans. Discount availability and terms vary by location and year.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Veterans Day is closely associated with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The tomb holds the remains of unidentified US servicemembers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. The tomb is guarded continuously by the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard"), with the Sentinel's Walk a precise 21 paces, reflecting in 14 seconds, and facing the tomb for 21 seconds.
A presidential wreath-laying ceremony is held at the tomb each Veterans Day, attended by the sitting US President, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other dignitaries. The National Veterans Day Ceremony, organized by the Veterans Day National Committee, is held at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington.
Where it is contested
Veterans Day is broadly accepted. Discussions center on federal recognition of veterans beyond the armed forces (public health service, NOAA commissioned corps) and on the naming of post-9/11 veterans for specific service eras, which have not produced any alteration of the holiday.
In other countries
Canada observes Remembrance Day on November 11. The UK observes Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday of November with the Cenotaph ceremony in London. France observes Armistice Day on November 11. Australia and New Zealand observe ANZAC Day on April 25. See the Memorial Day vs Veterans Day compare for the US-side breakdown.
The UK's Remembrance Sunday (the Sunday nearest to November 11) anchors the national two-minute silence at 11:00 local time and the Cenotaph wreath-laying in Whitehall. Canada holds a national Remembrance Day ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa, with a veterans-affairs minister laying a wreath on behalf of the sovereign. Most Commonwealth nations follow the British timing, with Newfoundland observing a separate July 1 memorial for the 1916 Somme casualties.
Veterans Day by the numbers
Sources
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day History: va.gov
- 5 U.S.C. section 6103 (Federal holiday statute): law.cornell.edu
- Library of Congress, Veterans Day: loc.gov
- Wikipedia, "Veterans Day": en.wikipedia.org