Why the US celebrates Veterans Day and how the holiday has changed over time

President Joe Biden laid a wreath on Monday for Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery as thousands marched through the streets of New York. Smaller parades were held across the country to honor Americans who served in the U.S. military.

The holiday “Veterans Day” began more than a century ago, albeit under a different name, as a celebration of the end of World War I. Over time, its name and purpose evolved into a day of recognition US veterans from all wars as well as those currently serving in uniform.

It is also a day off for U.S. postal workers and other federal government employees, as well as many school children. Many stores and businesses offer giveaways and discounts.

Here’s a look at how the United States celebrates Veterans Day and how it began:

What is the story behind Veterans Day?

It started as Armistice Day to celebrate the agreement between the Allies and Germany to cease all hostilities in the First World War, which came into force at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918.

The United States celebrated its first Armistice Day in 1919 under President Woodrow Wilson. Congress made November 11, 1938, an official federal holiday.

A holiday dedicated to those who fought in the so-called “war to end all wars” received a reappraisal after World War II. In 1954, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day, reflecting a broader purpose of honoring veterans of all wars.

Other changes were not so well received, they say US Department of Veterans Affairs website. Federal Veterans Day celebrations were moved to Monday in the early 1970s, causing confusion as some states stuck to the date of November 11th.

In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law that moved the federal holiday to November 11th. Since then, Veterans Day has been celebrated on this day in the USA.

How is Veterans Day celebrated?

Communities across the U.S. held parades on November 11th to honor war veterans, dating back to the first Armistice Day in 1919.

The country’s largest Veterans Day parade takes place in New York with a procession down Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. An estimated 20,000 marchers took part in 2024, according to the United War Veterans Council, which organizes the parade.

U.S. presidents lay a wreath during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington. In a speech Monday in the cemetery’s memorial amphitheater, Biden said it had been the honor of his life to serve as commander in chief of the “finest fighting force in the history of the world.”

Other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, also honor veterans on or around November 11th. They call their day of remembrance Remembrance Day.

How is Veterans Day different from Memorial Day?

While Veterans Day events typically focus on thanking all U.S. military veterans, living and dead, Memorial Day commemorations Traditionally it is about remembering those killed in wars.

Memorial Day began after the Civil War, when Decoration Day was celebrated nationwide for the first time on May 30, 1868. An organization of Union Army veterans called for war graves to be decorated with flowers.

Since 1971, the United States has celebrated Memorial Day on the last Monday in May rather than May 30th. The resulting three-day weekend has led to some complaints that the day’s true purpose, of somber remembrance, was undermined by its more leisurely recognition as Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer.

What is open and what is closed on Veterans Day?

Because it is a federal holiday, the U.S. Postal Service will not deliver mail on Veterans Day. Federal courts and other government offices are also closed.

Most banks in the US take the day off, as do many public schools.

The New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq remain openeven though the bond markets are closed.

Although some private businesses celebrate Veterans Day, most retailers remain open and many are offering special offers. Many restaurants offer free meals to veterans and current military members, who also take advantage of Veterans Day discounts at retailers. Some zoos and museums are waiving admission, while certain stores are giving away haircuts and car oil changes, according to a list compiled by the zoo Department of Veterans Affairs.