Distinction from Memorial Day: While Memorial Day (in May) commemorates service members who died while serving or from battle injuries, Veterans Day recognizes all honorably discharged or active/past veterans, with a primary focus on living veterans. It is also distinct from Armed Forces Day, which honors those currently serving.
History & Origins
Armistice Day (1918): The holiday began at the end of World War I. An armistice (temporary cessation of hostilities) between the Allied nations and Germany took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month
Becoming a Holiday: It was first proclaimed as Armistice Day in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson and became a federal holiday in 1938 to honor World War I veterans.
Expanded to All Veterans (1954): After the massive mobilizations of World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress amended the 1938 act at the urging of veteran service organizations. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 changing the name to Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Date Permanence: Though briefly moved to Mondays in the 1970s under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, public confusion led to a 1975 law returning the annual observance permanently to November 11 starting in 1978.
At Arlington National Cemetery, Veterans Day is commemorated through the annual National Veterans Day Observance. The ceremony begins precisely at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on November 11 to mark the exact hour the World War I armistice took effect in 1918.
