Veterans Day

Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th every year. It honors all people who have served in the United States military. These people are called veterans. Schools and towns hold special events to thank them. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day honors both living and deceased veterans.

The History

Veterans Day started as Armistice Day. It marked the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. At first, it honored only the soldiers from that war. In 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day. Now it honors veterans from every American war.

An older veteran proudly holds an American flag at a parade.
An older veteran proudly holds an American flag at a parade. (Department of Defense. Defense Audiovisual Agency; Scene Camera Operator: Mickey Sanborn / Wikimedia Commons)

How We Honor Veterans

Many schools invite veterans to speak to students. Towns hold parades with marching bands and soldiers. People wear red poppies to show respect. At 11 a.m., some people pause for a moment of silence. Saying 'thank you for your service' is a simple way to honor a veteran.

Fun Facts

  • Veterans Day is always on November 11th, no matter the day of the week.
  • About 18 million veterans live in the United States today.
  • Many other countries call November 11th Remembrance Day.

Did You Know?

The name Veterans Day does not have an apostrophe because it belongs to all veterans, not just one.