November 11 · Veterans Day
A day to honor all who served
From the armistice of 1918 to the veterans in our communities today: ten facts behind a day of national gratitude.
Every November 11, Americans pause to recognize military service. The date has remained familiar even as the holiday’s name, purpose, and place on the calendar have changed.
Fact 01
It began as Armistice Day
The date recalls the armistice between the Allies and Germany that took effect at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, stopping the fighting on the Western Front. The first anniversary was observed in 1919.
Fact 02
A new name honored more generations
After World War II and the Korean War, the holiday’s purpose expanded. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Fact 03
It honors all who served
Veterans Day honors veterans who served in wartime or peacetime, living or deceased. Its particular emphasis is thanking living veterans. Memorial Day remembers those who died in military service.
Fact 04
Eleven o’clock carries special meaning
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month recalls the 1918 armistice. Today, the Veterans Day National Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begins at 11 a.m. Eastern with a wreath laying.
Fact 05
Other countries remember, too
Canada observes Remembrance Day on November 11. The United Kingdom marks Armistice Day on November 11 and Remembrance Sunday on the second Sunday in November. These observances share historical roots, though their traditions and emphasis differ.
Fact 06
November 11 briefly gave way to October
A 1968 law moved the federal observance to the fourth Monday in October, beginning in 1971. President Gerald Ford signed the law restoring November 11 in 1975; the change took effect in 1978.
Fact 07
Arlington hosts a national tribute
The annual national ceremony includes a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The president or a designated representative lays the wreath, honoring the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans.
Fact 08
There is no apostrophe
The correct name is Veterans Day. It is a day for honoring all veterans, rather than a possessive name indicating that the day belongs to a particular veteran or group.
Fact 09
Millions of Americans share this history
The Department of Veterans Affairs describes the nation’s veteran population as approximately 17 million in its fiscal year 2026 overview. Behind that number are individual stories of service, sacrifice, and life after the military.
Fact 10
Gratitude can be personal
Attend a local observance, thank a veteran, or take time to listen to someone’s experience. Learning the history of the day is one way to make that appreciation more meaningful.
Keep exploring
Discover more people and turning points in American history in We the People.