What Is Veterans Day About?

Photo of veterans
Veterans Day celebrates veterans who have served in the United States armed forces.
()

There are many national holidays in America, but two appear to have similar themes. One is Memorial Day, and the other is Veterans Day. How does Veterans Day differ from Memorial Day? And, how does it relate to Armistice Day on the same date? 

Veterans Day in Brief

Veterans Day is a day in November when the nation takes time to celebrate veterans across the country that have served in conflicts around the world. It falls on November 11th, also known as Armistice Day, and is a federal holiday that is held in high esteem like Memorial Day and Juneteenth. It is dedicated to honoring the survivors of war and giving them a platform to tell their stories. 

The Difference Between Veterans and Memorial Day

Memorial Day takes place much earlier in the year – at the end of May – when we take the time to honor those that have died in war. It has its origins in events that occurred towards the end of the Civil War. Veterans Day honors the living and the dead. The shift to honoring all veterans on November 11th provides a clear distinction between the two holidays.

Photo of graveyard headstones
Memorial Day honors those who have in died in war.

The Switch From Armistice Day to Veterans Day

Originally, Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day in the United States. Armistice Day is a term recognized globally to honor the moment that peace was declared at the end of World War I. The precise moment was the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month. As a result, moments of remembrance occur at this specific time and across November 11th. 

In Great Britain, there is a split between Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday, and here the government changed the purpose of November 11th to give it a wider meaning.

Photo of WWI trenches
Armistice Day was established to honor the World War I dead.

Armistice Day was very specific in intent to honor those that died in World War I and to express the hope that such a devastating conflict would never happen again. Of course, it did happen again, and America was brought into another world war in the 1940s. Since then, there have been numerous conflicts that have seen American soldiers and other military figures lose their lives.

Consequently, it was deemed appropriate to change Armistice Day To Veterans Day. First of all, this switch meant that any remembrance service was more applicable to other conflicts and lost relatives. Secondly, it was a recognition that there were many living survivors from those wars. While Memorial Day is a time to honor those that have died, Veterans Day now provides an opportunity to celebrate living veterans. 

The First Veterans Day

The first Veterans Day as a national holiday was in 1954 when Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proposal to change the name. President Eisenhower was a military veteran, having served in the United States armed forces during the Second World War.

Portrait of President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower served as General in the United States Army

However, The first celebration to use this name took place in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947. A World War II veteran called Raymond Weeks organized a “National Veterans Day” for the city to honor all veterans instead of just those that died in the First World War. It was sentiments like this and a growing change in attitude to the day that led to the official name change much later.

How Many Veterans Are There in America?

Many veterans in the United States have served in several wars since the original Armistice Day. As of 2021, there were an estimated 240,000 that served in World War II. A sizable portion of those would have been drafted as teenagers or lied about their age. There are 5.9 million veterans that served during the Vietnam War, 7.8 million that served in the Gulf War era, and around 933,000 that were a part of the Korean War.

Of course, the Veterans Day celebration is also important for many members of military families. Some veterans served their time with the military more recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. Others haven’t seen conflict but are still vital parts of the service today. This day also means a lot to those people. Military families can participate in various ways on bases, in local communities, or on a larger stage. 

Celebrating Living Veterans on Veterans Day

As this is a day about celebrating living veterans rather than those that have died, it’s important to spend time with those that have served. Veterans Day isn’t just an opportunity for veterans to participate in a parade and wear their uniforms. It is a chance for them to tell their stories to younger generations. Many veterans can feel unheard and appreciate a larger community event like this.

Veterans Day is also an opportunity to raise money for charities that help those struggling in life. Many veterans have disabilities – either physical or mental – that make it hard for them to live the life they deserve. So, fundraising events on this day can provide a voice for people and help them get the support they need. 

Other Veterans Day Celebrations

This desire to shift the focus to veterans and the living doesn’t mean that there aren’t also lots of moments of remembrance in the Armistice Day spirit. Many people will take the time to mark both sides of the day by watching parades involving veterans but will do other things during the day. They may observe the two-minute silence for the fallen at 11 am, go to a religious service, visit a grave, wear a poppy, or a combination of gestures. It is also not uncommon for public buildings to lower their flags to half-mast while conducting events for veterans.

An ongoing Armistice tradition on Veterans Day is the service at Arlington National Cemetery. This site is the home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Here, officials and the President of the United States will take part in a memorial service. There are also thousands of military graves at Arlington, so families can come and pay their respects.

There is no right or wrong way to mark the day as long as you remain respectful. You can take part in large community events, have a quiet moment of education or reflection, or anything in between. 

What Is Veterans Day About? Quiz

What is the main difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
Which war led to the establishment of Armistice Day?
Who organized the first celebration using the name 'Veterans Day'?
What was the original intent of Armistice Day?
How many veterans served in the Gulf War era as of 2021?
When was the first Veterans Day celebrated as a national holiday?
Which of the following is NOT a way people commonly observe Veterans Day?
At what time is the moment of remembrance traditionally observed on Veterans Day?
What is a common tradition at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day?
What was Veterans Day originally called?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?

Veterans Day honors all veterans, both living and deceased, who have served in conflicts around the world. Memorial Day, on the other hand, specifically honors those who have died in war. Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th, while Memorial Day takes place at the end of May.

Why was Armistice Day changed to Veterans Day?

Armistice Day was originally established to honor those who died in World War I and to express hope for lasting peace. However, after subsequent conflicts like World War II, it was deemed appropriate to broaden the scope of the holiday to honor all veterans, both living and deceased, from all wars. This led to the official name change to Veterans Day in 1954.

When and how did Veterans Day originate?

The first celebration using the name 'Veterans Day' took place in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1947, organized by World War II veteran Raymond Weeks. It became a national holiday in 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proposal to change the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.

How is Veterans Day traditionally observed?

Veterans Day is observed through various activities, including parades, moments of silence at 11 a.m., religious services, and visits to gravesites. Public buildings may lower flags to half-mast, and fundraising events for veteran charities are common. The day also provides an opportunity for veterans to share their stories and for communities to honor their service.

What is the significance of November 11th for Veterans Day?

November 11th marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I, which took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Originally known as Armistice Day, the date was retained for Veterans Day to honor the historical significance of the moment peace was declared, while also expanding the holiday to recognize all veterans.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.