When is Veteran’s Day?

Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, has a rich history and is celebrated to honor military veterans for their service and sacrifice. This year it will be celebrated on Saturday, 11 November.

This means that federal employees will observe the federal holiday on the previous day, Friday 10 November. Expect a lot of stores to be closed as well as schools.

Veterans Day is a day to honor and thank all military veterans for their service, not to be confused with Memorial Day, which specifically commemorates those who died in military service.

The history of Veteran’s Day

Veterans Day’s origins can be traced back to the end of World War I. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, an armistice, or a temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany, effectively ending the fighting in World War I.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed 11 November as Armistice Day, officially recognising the end of fighting.

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” Wilson proclaimed.

19 years later, in 1938, it was made a federal holiday.

After World War II and the Korean War, the holiday’s name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to include veterans of all wars and conflicts. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed this legislation into law.