When is Veterans Day 2025? What to know this year

admin-cdn4 hours ago

0 0 2 minutes read

When is Veterans Day 2025? What to know this year

Veterans Day created to honor war’s sacrifice, as well as the living

Discover the origins of Armistice Day, now Veterans Day, from Smithsonian National Museum of American History curator Frank Blazich.

USA TODAY

Veterans Day is coming up. The day is the annual holiday in November honoring men and women who have served in all U.S. wars, past and present.

The annual day of remembrance for veterans has been around since after World War I – then known as The Great War – when it was first named Armistice Day. It became one of 10 federally recognized holidays in the 1930s. Veterans Day is often recognized with parades and memorial services. Many businesses also offer special deals for veterans to thank them for their service.

Veterans Day is on Nov. 11 every year, regardless of what day of the week it falls. This year, it falls on a Tuesday.

Here’s what to know about Veterans Day:

Is Veterans Day a federal holiday? When is it observed in 2025?

Yes, Veterans Day is a federal holiday. Veterans Day falls on a Tuesday this year. As a federal holiday, it means that federal employees will observe the federal holiday on Nov. 11, and many non-essential government services will be closed. Many schools and companies will also be closed on Nov. 11, in observation of the holiday.

What was Veterans Day originally called?

The Nov. 11 day of remembrance wasn’t always known as Veterans Day. It was initially called “Armistice Day,” marking the day that fighting ceased in World War I in 1918.

Armistice Day was recognized as an official holiday by Congress in 1938, first used to honor veterans of World War I, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. In 1954, following both World War II and the Korean War, the word “armistice” was changed to “veterans” to honor veterans of all American wars.

The day Veterans Day was celebrated moved a few times over the years, but President Gerald Ford moved it back to its annual observance on the Nov. 11 date by 1978.

Is Veterans Day different from Memorial Day?

Besides being observed in two different months and two different seasons, the set purpose of Veterans Day and Memorial Day is not the same.

Memorial Day is observed annually on the last Monday of May, and is meant to honor all who served and gave their lives for their country. Veterans Day is in November, and honors all veterans, both living and dead, who served in any wars, past or present.

How many federal holidays are there?

Each year, there are 11 federal holidays in the United States:

New Year’s Day (Jan. 1)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Third Monday in January)
Presidents’ Day (Third Monday in February)
Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
Juneteenth (June 19)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (First Monday in September)
Columbus Day (Second Monday in October)
Veterans Day (Nov. 11)
Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday of November)
Christmas Day (Dec. 25)

If you work in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, you get an additional holiday every four years. Inauguration Day is held on Jan. 20 of every fourth year. So this past year, Inauguration Day was a day off for folks in and around the nation’s capital.