who is celebrated on veterans day

Veterans Day in the United States honors all military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, both living and deceased, in wartime and in peacetime.

Who is celebrated

• All former members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard are recognized on Veterans Day.

• The day also carries a special sense of remembrance for those killed in the country’s wars, even though Memorial Day is the primary holiday for the fallen.

• Unlike Memorial Day (focused on the dead) or Armed Forces Day (focused on those currently serving), Veterans Day centers on everyone who has served in the U.S. military.

Brief history

• Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918, and originally honored World War I veterans.

• In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, the U.S. Congress renamed it “Veterans Day” to honor American veterans of all wars, expanding it to all who served.

How people honor them

• Ceremonies are held at places like Arlington National Cemetery, including a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns, to honor veterans’ service and sacrifice.

• Communities hold parades, school programs, and moments of silence, and many people personally thank veterans or support veteran organizations on this day.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.