Veterans Day 2021 in the United States

Veterans Day 2021 in the US is celebrated on 11 November every year, and it is given the status of a public holiday.

Let’s talk about Veterans Day from the list of Holidays 2021. If you are unsure of when Veterans Day in 2021 is to be celebrated, keep reading this article. You will get detailed insights about the celebration, when and why it is commemorated, and all that it entails.

Veterans Day in the USA, also known as Armistice Day globally marks the date in November when the Allies of World War I and Germany signed the Armistice, ceasing hostilities on the Western front.

When is Veterans Day in 2021?

11

November, 2021

(Thursday)

Veterans Day in US

Is Veterans Day In The USA A Public Holiday?

Veterans Day in the USA is given the status of a public holiday, as per the Holidays 2021 calendar. Most businesses, stores, and shops as well as all schools, universities, and government offices remain closed on this day. Public Transportations also do not follow their usual route.

Veterans Day History in the US

The history of Veterans Day is quite prevalent across the globe. Numerous countries celebrate the holiday as Armistice Day, the day when hostilities of World War I finally ceased. Germany and the Allied Forces signed the Armistice, officially calling a ceasefire "at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month [sic]" of the year 1918. The Allies included the USA, as well as France, Russia, Japan, Italy, and the British Empire. Ever since then, these countries (and some of BE’s Commonwealth territories) commemorate the day.

Veterans Day in the USA was also initially celebrated as Armistice Day, marking the ending of the warfare. However, it was changed to Veterans day in 1954, and today honours all personnel of the US Army. This includes those who are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. More importantly, those as well who had served and were discharged (honourably) or died in the service. In the words of President Woodrow, in his message in 1919, the reflections of Armistice Day were described as:

“filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of nations. [sic]”.

After World War II, in 1945, veteran Raymond Weeks presented the idea of expanding the commemoration of Armistice Day in the USA to include all veterans, not just those who were martyred in WWI. The bill was passed in 1954, and in 1982, President Reagan honoured him with the Presidential Citizenship Medal, naming Weeks the ’Father of Veterans Day’.

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act changed the date of the celebration of Veterans Day in the US to the fourth Monday of October from 1971. But it was soon changed back to 11 November, in 1978.

Public Life on Veterans Day in the USA

Veterans Day 2021 in the US is about honouring all veterans who served or are serving in the US Armed Forces. Moreover, it is also about the signing of the Armistice with Germany in WWI. The public life on this day is rather solemn, as people pay their respects to the fallen and show their gratitude to the veterans of the US Army. The annual parade of Manhattan is a famous and widely attended event. Numerous such ceremonies and speeches are held throughout the country by the military.

People show their respect for the men and women of the Armed Forces by wearing the flower Red Poppy as a brooch on this day. The proceedings from the sale of these flowers are used to raise funds and donations for the veterans. In addition to this, numerous restaurants and fast-food chains offer a discount or even free meals to the veterans, in honour of the day.

All federal government offices remain closed on Veterans Day in the USA. If the observance fell on the weekend, its adjacent weekday is instead declared off. This means that if Veterans Day occurred on a Saturday or Sunday, the adjacent Friday or Monday would be declared a holiday, respectively.

Veterans Day Observances

Year Weekday Date Name Holiday Type
2019 Mon 11 November Veterans Day Federal Holiday
2020 Wed 11 November Veterans Day Federal Holiday
2021 Thu 11 November Veterans Day Federal Holiday
2022 Fri 11 November Veterans Day Federal Holiday
2023 Sat 11 November Veterans Day Federal Holiday
2024 Mon 11 November Veterans Day Federal Holiday
2025 Tue 11 November Veterans Day Federal Holiday

FAQs

1. Which is the correct spelling of Veterans Day in the USA?

According to the website of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the correct spelling is Veterans Day. This is because this day is not possessive, i.e., doesn’t belong to the veterans, but is attributive – it honours them.

2. Do all schools remain closed on Veterans Day in the USA?

No, there is no legal requirement for schools to close on Veterans Day in the USA. Therefore, while some may close, others choose to schedule assemblies or other activities to honour the veterans of the US Armed Forces.

3. What is the difference between Veterans Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day?

Veterans Day in the USA is often confused with the other two. Veterans Day pays respect to all veterans of the US Army, Memorial Day recognizes those who died in the service, while Armed Forces Day honours those currently serving.

Tl;dr For those who only wish to know When is Veterans Day in 2021? The date is 11 November, Thursday.

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Quick Facts

This year: Thu, 11 November 2021
Next year: Fri, 11 November 2022
Last year: Wed, 11 November 2020
Type: Federal Holiday

Veterans Day - Names in Other Languages

English: Veterans Day
Norwegian: Veterandagen
Spanish: Día de los Veteranos
Dutch: Veteranendag
Italian: Giorno dei Veterani
German: Volkstrauertag
French: Journée des Anciens Combattants
Swedish: Veteranernas Dag