10 Things You Never Knew About Veterans Day

On Nov. 11 — Veterans Day — we honor all the brave men and women who have served in the United States military.

It is not to be confused with Memorial Day, which is to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. On Veterans Day, federal offices are closed as well as many private businesses. Many restaurants across the country offer free meals to veterans. Discounts are available to veterans nationwide.

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But how many of us know the history of Veterans Day? Here are some important and interesting facts about this significant day. 

1. It was originally called Armistice Day

Hostilities in World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice, or peace agreement, with Germany went into effect. Armistice Day began as a celebration recognizing the victory of the allied forces of WWI. It was renamed Veterans Day by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 and is now dedicated to veterans of all wars.

2. There is no apostrophe

There is often confusion about the punctuation. The holiday is not a day that “belongs” to one veteran (Veteran’s) or multiple veterans (Veterans’), which is what a possessive apostrophe would signify. It is a day for honoring all veterans, so no apostrophe is used.

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3. Veterans Day hasn’t always been celebrated on Nov. 11

In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Holiday Bill, which ensured three-day weekends for federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day.

This bill assigned the fourth Monday of October as Veterans Day, but many states disapproved of this decision. In 1975, President Gerald Ford returned Veterans Day to Nov. 11, anchoring it to this historically significance day.

4. Arlington National Cemetery holds an annual service

The cemetery, just across the Potomac River from Washington D.C., is home to the graves of over 400,000 military personnel and their families. A National Veterans Day Ceremony is held at 11 a.m. each Nov. 11. During the commemoration, guards lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and veterans organizations hold a parade of colors. The ceremony is free and open to the public.

5. The New York City parade is the oldest in the country

The New York City Veterans Day Parade takes place along Fifth Avenue. It is both the largest and oldest Veterans Day parade in the country. The first one was held in 1919.