U.S. federal holiday observed annually on November 11, honoring all American military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, distinct from Memorial Day (which honors those who died in service). Originally called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I.

History

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice (temporary cessation of hostilities) was declared between the Allied nations and Germany, effectively ending World War I. In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as Armistice Day to honor WWI veterans.

• 1926: Congress passed a resolution making November 11 an annual observance
• 1938: Armistice Day became a federal holiday
• 1954: After WWII and the Korean War, Congress amended the law, changing “Armistice” to “Veterans,” honoring all U.S. military veterans
• 1968: Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to fourth Monday of October (1971-1978)
• 1978: Returned to November 11 due to historical significance

Observance

Veterans Day is not a day of mourning (that’s Memorial Day, May). It celebrates living veterans and honors the service of all who wore the uniform.

Official ceremony:

• Wreath-laying at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington National Cemetery, 11 AM)
• President typically attends, gives remarks
• Two minutes of silence at 11 AM (2 PM ET)

Common activities:

• Parades (New York City hosts largest, 25,000+ participants)
• School programs honoring veterans
• Free meals and discounts for veterans at restaurants (Applebee’s, Chili’s, Olive Garden, etc.)
• VA hospitals and veteran organizations host events

Social Media Culture

#VeteransDay trends annually with:

• Thank you posts: Personal tributes to family members, friends who served
• Service photos: Veterans sharing their military photos, stories
• Awareness campaigns: Highlighting veteran homelessness, PTSD, suicide rates
• Corporate gratitude: Brands thanking veterans (often criticized as performative)
• Free meal lists: Spreadsheets of restaurant/business veteran discounts
• Military family appreciation: Recognizing spouses, children of service members

Distinction from Memorial Day

Common confusion exists between the two holidays:

Veteran Statistics (U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, 2023)

• Total veterans: 18 million (6% of U.S. population)
• Age: 51% are 65+ years old
• Gender: 9% women (increasing)
• Conflicts: WWII (1% remaining), Korea (5%), Vietnam (31%), Gulf War (38%), post-9/11 (40%)
• Homelessness: ~37,000 veterans homeless on any given night (2022)
• Suicide: Average 17 veterans die by suicide per day (2021 data)

Criticism & Advocacy

• Performative patriotism: Social media thanks without policy support (VA funding, healthcare, housing)
• Military-industrial complex: Debates about honoring service vs. questioning endless wars
• Veteran homelessness: Why do those who served live on streets?
• PTSD/mental health: Lack of adequate resources, stigma around seeking help
• Agent Orange, burn pits: Long-term health effects, inadequate VA compensation

Free Meals & Discounts (Sampling)

• Restaurants: Applebee’s, Chili’s, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Outback, IHOP
• Retail: Home Depot, Lowe’s, Kohl’s (15-20% off)
• Parks: Free National Park entry (Veterans Day + 15 other days)
• Museums: Free admission at many Smithsonian institutions, military museums

Related Hashtags

#ThankAVeteran, #VeteransDay2024, #HonorVeterans, #November11, #SupportOurVeterans, #VeteranOwned, #ArmedForces, #VeteranAppreciation, #MilitaryFamily, #RedWhiteAndBlue

Sources

• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
• Arlington National Cemetery: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil
• Veteran statistics: VA National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics (2023)
• Social media trends: Pew Research Center, Sprout Social, 2018-2023