November 11 is Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day) in the U.S.A., similar to other holidays held in other countries that mark the end of World War I. The day honors former military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (other than those dishonorably discharged) for their service, and differs from Memorial Day in that the latter honors those who died in service and from Armed Forced Day in that this honors those still in service. Because the day honors veterans instead of belonging to them, there is no apostrophe in "Veterans".

Although the day was first observed in 1919 when then-President Woodrow Wilson issued a message in which he expressed what he felt the day meant to Americans, Armistice Day didn't become a legal holiday until 1938 via a Congressional Act. In 1945, Raymond Weeks (the "Father of Veterans Day") of Birminghan, Alabama, sought to expand the day to cover all veterans, regardless of conflict or peacetime, which President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law 1954 and Congress changed the name to Veterans Day. From 1971 to 1977, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday in October before returning to November 11. When the day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the previous Friday or the following Monday (respectively) are also days off.

More Information

Veterans Day (Wikipedia)

Also see

• November (month)