Veterans Day 2024, 2025 and 2026
Veterans Day is a nationally-observed public holiday in the United States every 11 November, the date of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. For this reason, the holiday was originally called Armistice Day and once focused exclusively on World War I veterans. Today, the purpose of Veterans Day is to honor any and all US veterans who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or any other part of the US Armed Forces in any capacity.
Veterans Day will be observed on Monday 11 November in 2024. In 2025 the holiday falls on a Tuesday.
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11 Nov | Mon | Veterans Day | All states; Federal workers |
| 2025 | 11 Nov | Tue | Veterans Day | All states; Federal workers |
| 2026 | 11 Nov | Wed | Veterans Day | All states; Federal workers |
| 2027 | 11 Nov | Thu | Veterans Day | All states; Federal workers |
| Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates. | ||||
If 11 November falls on a Saturday, the previous Friday is taken off work. If it falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed. This guarantees a three-day Veterans Day Weekend.
After World War II, Raymond Weeks led an effort to expand the meaning of Veterans Day to encompass all war veterans and not just those from the First World War. It succeeded, and Weeks is now known as the “Father of Modern Veterans Day.” In 1954, Armistice Day was officially renamed Veterans Day.
Veterans Day is distinct from other US holidays designed to honor those who served. For example, Memorial Day is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the course of military service for their country. And Armed Forces Day honors those currently serving in the Armed Forces. But Veterans Day applies to all who served in the past regardless of whether or not they died in a foreign war during their term of service.
Only around a fifth of US employers shut down their business on Veterans Day, but they may allow people to get off work who want to do so even if the business stays open for the day. Many people attend war memorials, veterans’ cemeteries, battlefield monuments like Gettysburg, history museums, and other appropriate places for Veterans Day. Many also attend Veterans Day parades or special church service on the Sunday nearest to the holiday.
It is customary in some quarters to fly the American flag at half-mast during at least a portion of Veterans Day. And it is traditional to observe two minutes of silence or prayer at 11am. The moment of silence is supposed to be on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the year. Many families also gather together to enjoy a festive meal and each other’s company on 11 November or sometime during Veterans Day Weekend.
Previous Years
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday | States |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 10 Nov | Fri | Veterans Day Holiday | Federal workers; All states except MA, RI & WI |
| 11 Nov | Sat | Veterans Day | All states; Federal workers | |
| 13 Nov | Mon | Veterans Day Holiday | RI | |
| 2022 | 11 Nov | Fri | Veterans Day | All states; Federal workers |