Veterans Day is a United States federal holiday observed annually on November 11. The date is fixed and does not change based on the day of the week. It is a day dedicated to honoring all individuals, living or deceased, who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The date's significance is rooted in the armistice that marked the end of major hostilities in World War I, which took effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. The day was originally commemorated as Armistice Day. In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War, the U.S. Congress amended the act, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans" to formally expand the holiday's scope to honor American veterans of all wars. For a brief period from 1971 to 1977, the observance was moved to the fourth Monday in October under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, but it was returned to its original November 11 date in 1978 due to the date's profound historical importance.
Maintaining the observance on the fixed date of November 11, rather than shifting it for a three-day weekend, preserves the holiday's historical connection to the end of World War I. This specific date serves as a deliberate and consistent reminder of the service and sacrifice of all military veterans. This holiday is distinct from Memorial Day, which is observed in May to specifically honor those who died while in military service.
