Veteran’s Day is to honor and thank all military personnel who served the United States in all wars. Veterans Day is for remembering living veterans. It is marked by parades and church services and in many places the American flag is hung at half-mast. A period of silence lasting two minutes is often held at 11am. Many schools are closed on Veterans Day. Some schools do not close, but mark the occasion in other ways.

Veteran’s Day annually falls on November 11. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the day should be “filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory”.

Today, Veterans are thanked and remembered for their services to the United States on Veterans Day.