Veterans Day is a United States federal holiday honoring all those who have served in the country's armed forces, in wartime or in peace. It is not the same as Memorial Day, which remembers those who died in service.
The history of Veterans Day
Fighting in World War I stopped at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in November 1919, and it became a legal holiday in 1938. In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress replaced the word "Armistice" with "Veterans" so that the day would honor veterans of all wars.
How to mark Veterans Day
- Attend a local parade or ceremony
- Thank a veteran you know, and ask about their story
- Volunteer with or donate to an organization that helps veterans
- Fly the flag
