About Veterans Day
Veterans Day is the US federal holiday that honours everyone who has served in the American armed forces, living or dead. It is kept on 11 November, the anniversary of the 1918 Armistice, and in 2026 it falls on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. It is a day of thanks and respect, marked with ceremonies, parades and a wreath at Arlington.
Veterans Day thanks the people who served. That is what separates it from Memorial Day in May, which remembers those who died in service. On 11 November, Americans thank the veteran down the street, the grandparent who was drafted, the colleague who did two tours and the friend who served in peacetime and never saw combat. All of them count.
The official spelling has no apostrophe: Veterans Day, a day for veterans rather than a day that belongs to them.
Why 11 November
The First World War ended in an armistice that took effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month: 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day, to be marked with parades, public meetings and a short pause in business at 11 a.m.
- 1919 · Armistice DayWilson's proclamation
The first anniversary of the armistice is marked across the US.
- 1938 · A legal holidayCongress makes it official
An Act of Congress makes 11 November a legal holiday, dedicated to world peace and known as Armistice Day.
- 1947 · Raymond WeeksThe idea of honouring all veterans
Raymond Weeks, a Second World War veteran in Birmingham, Alabama, leads a celebration for veterans of every war, and keeps organising it each year until his death in 1985.
- 1954 · Veterans DayA new name
After the Second World War and Korea, Congress replaces "Armistice" with "Veterans", and President Eisenhower signs the change, so the day honours veterans of all wars.
- 1971–1977 · A Monday in OctoberThe detour
The Uniform Holiday Bill of 1968 moves the holiday to the fourth Monday of October to make a long weekend. Veterans' groups and many states object.
- 1978 · Back to 11 NovemberThe date returns
A 1975 law restores 11 November from 1978, because of the date's meaning. It has stayed there since.
When 11 November falls on a Saturday, federal workers usually get the Friday off; when it falls on a Sunday, the Monday. The day itself is still 11 November.
How it is marked
The national ceremony is at Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington DC. At 11 a.m. a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by a service in the Memorial Amphitheater, usually led by the president or another senior official. Towns hold parades and ceremonies at war memorials, schools hold assemblies, and veterans' groups such as the American Legion and the VFW hold breakfasts and services.
Many people simply phone or visit a veteran in the family. Others volunteer at a veterans' hospital, write letters to veterans in care homes, or visit a national cemetery. Federal offices, banks and the post office close; most private businesses stay open.
Veterans Day, Memorial Day and Remembrance Day
| What differs | Veterans Day | Memorial Day | Remembrance Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Everyone who served, living and dead | Those who died while serving | The war dead, especially of the World Wars |
| When | 11 November | Last Monday of May | 11 November; Remembrance Sunday in the UK |
| Where | United States | United States | UK, Canada, Australia and the Commonwealth |
| Mood | Thanks and respect | Mourning and remembrance | Mourning and remembrance; two minutes' silence |
| Is "thank you for your service" right? | Yes, to a veteran | No; the day is for those who did not come home | Not the usual phrase; "Lest we forget" is |
On the same morning, the UK, Canada and Australia keep Remembrance Day. If you work with people in those countries, their 11 November is quieter and more about the dead.
What to say, and what to avoid
Many Americans do say "Happy Veterans Day", and plenty of veterans don't mind. But it is a day about service and sacrifice, and a plain thank-you fits better. "Thank you for your service" is the standard phrase. Some veterans find it automatic, though, especially from strangers, so the best messages go one step further: name what you are thanking them for, or ask about their service if they want to talk.
Thank you, Dad. For the years in uniform, and for everything you never told us about. Proud to be your son today and every day.
Thank you for your service. I know it's not something you talk about much at work, but I wanted you to know it's noticed today.
Thinking of you today. Thank you for the years you gave, and for being the steadiest person I know since.
Today is for the people who served, and that includes the people who waited at home. Thank you for everything you carried too.
Thank you for your service. If you ever want to share a story from those years, I'd be glad to listen.
Thinking of you today and remembering Mike. He served with so much quiet courage, and he isn't forgotten.
Today we thank the veterans on our team and in our families. Thank you for your service, and for what you bring to this place.
Do
- Thank the person in your own words, and keep it short.
- Ask before you share a veteran's photo or story on social media.
- Give veterans on your team space to take part in a ceremony or spend the day with family.
Avoid
- Don't send "Happy Veterans Day" with balloons, confetti or party graphics.
- Don't ask a veteran whether they killed anyone, or press for combat stories.
- Don't assume every veteran saw combat, or that every veteran is a man.
- Don't use the day to sell something; a "Veterans Day sale" message from a company reads badly to many veterans.
- Don't mix it up with Memorial Day. Thanking someone for "their sacrifice" on Veterans Day can sound as if they died.
For readers in India
If you work with American teams, expect government offices, banks and some companies in the US to be closed, and expect a few colleagues to step away for a ceremony. A short note to a veteran on the team is welcome; a festive greeting is not. India keeps its own days for the armed forces, including Armed Forces Flag Day on 7 December, a fundraising day for veterans and their families, and Kargil Vijay Diwas on 26 July.
How to wish someone on Veterans Day
A Veterans Day message is a thank-you, not a party greeting. Thank the person for their service in your own words, and if you can, name something specific: where they served, what they taught you, what they gave up. Keep it short and sincere, with no exclamation marks or sale tie-ins. For a family that lost someone who served, say you are remembering him or her by name.
Write a few lines in your own words, pick a design and share it as one link on WhatsApp, Instagram or anywhere else. They open an animated card made just for them, with no app and no sign-up.
Language tip: English (US).
When is Veterans Day in 2026 and 2027?
Veterans Day is on 11 Nov every year. Only the weekday changes.
- 2026
- 2027
Frequently asked questions
When is Veterans Day in 2026?
Veterans Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, 11 November 2026.
What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
Veterans Day, on 11 November, thanks everyone who has served in the US armed forces, living or dead. Memorial Day, on the last Monday of May, remembers those who died while serving. "Thank you for your service" suits Veterans Day; Memorial Day is for remembering the dead.
Is it okay to say "Happy Veterans Day"?
Many Americans say it and many veterans accept it kindly, but it can sound light for a day about service. "Thank you for your service", or a short, specific thank-you in your own words, is the safer and more respectful choice.
Why is Veterans Day on 11 November?
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, marking the end of fighting in the First World War at 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918. It was renamed Veterans Day in 1954, briefly moved to October from 1971 to 1977, and returned to 11 November in 1978.
Is Veterans Day spelled with an apostrophe?
No. The official spelling is Veterans Day, with no apostrophe, because the day honours veterans rather than belonging to them. The US Department of Veterans Affairs uses this form.
What happens at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day?
At 11 a.m. on 11 November, a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. A national ceremony follows in the Memorial Amphitheater, with speeches, music and representatives of veterans' organisations.
What should I write to a family that lost a veteran?
Leave out "happy" and thanks for "their sacrifice". Say you are thinking of the family today, use the person's name, and share one thing you remember about them. A short, personal message matters more than a long tribute.
Last verified by the Kehdoo team on .