Veterans Day is a U.S. holiday set aside to honor those who have served in the military. It is held on November 11 every year, and it is a federal holiday. This means that all federal and state offices, such as the post office, and many businesses like banks are closed on this day. It coincides with many similar holidays around the world, such as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day. While these celebrations are more focused on the signing of the armistice that brought World War I to a close, the U.S. day has slowly become more a day of honoring and celebrating those who have fought in any armed conflict. It's important to note that on Veterans Day, people celebrate all veterans, while on Memorial Day (held in the spring), people honor those who died in service to their country.
Veterans Day was first created in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson. Over the years, a number of traditions have cropped up. Many businesses close for the day, and many military personnel are given free time. Because the U.S. Marine Corps was founded on November 10, Marines often observe a 96-hour period of free time. Many restaurants and fast food chains offer military veterans free meals and other perks.
Often, friends and family members of veterans will give the veteran some small gifts and other tokens of appreciation. Parades are held in a number of cities, too. Many people give veterans patches for their jackets and vests. Some of these patches are made for specific conflicts, such as Vietnam or the Iraqi war, while others are generic veterans patches that can be worn by anyone. Others feature the logo of a specific branch of the military.
