MAIN Holidays Veterans Day 2024

Mark your calendars for Veterans Day this year celebrated on Monday, November 11, 2024.

In the US, banks and post offices will be closed or the federal holiday, while the Wall St. stock exchanges will remain open.

Businesses and schools in some areas of the country will also be closed on Monday for a leisurely three-day weekend. Restaurants and department stores will remain open.

Just up ahead, check out what else is happening this Veterans Day.

That includes the first big sale of the holiday season, along with free giveaways and discounts for Veterans and families. plus personal ways to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of American freedom.

2024 Veterans Day deals & free stuff

As usual, watch in the US nationwide for restaurants to offer free meals and offers of retail discounts to veterans (with proper ID) in honor of the day, along with traditional 2024 Veterans Day sales through the weekend.

Some of the best offers from restaurants on Veteran’s Day include Dunkin' with a free donut for military members while Starbucks usually offers a free tall coffee on the 11th just for veterans.

Other national chains such as Little Caesar's and Red Lobster also offer special discounts to say 'thanks' to members of the US military each Veterans Day.

Remembering veterans on Veterans Day

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the armistice was signed that ended fighting in WWI, "the war to end all wars."

While the peace did not last, the date gained recognition throughout the western world as a day to honor veterans.

Originally, the date was marked as Armistice Day, but when the losses mounted in the many wars that followed, the name was changed to allow all soldiers from all wars to be honored.

Today, Veterans' Day is marked with neighborhood parades, ceremonies, quotes and speeches - and a moment of silence - to honor those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their nations in the two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands, Lebanon, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Dignitaries gather to place wreaths on the tombs of unknown soldiers who rest in anonymous honor as a symbol of all who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

The Flanders Fields poppy, symbolic of the bloodshed, is today a universal symbol sported on caps and lapels to honor war veterans everywhere, with wreaths of the bright red flowers decorating war memorials and in gardens of remembrance around the world...

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie ~ In Flanders fields

also see related feature -> The Christmas Truce of 1914

More about Veterans Day and Remembrance Day around the Web:

Veterans Day - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers a Washington D.C. schedule of events, classroom activities, downloadable posters and wallpaper, a related FAQ and complete Veterans Day Teacher Guide in PDF format.

Today in History: November 11 - Here's a rich collection of World War I history resources from the U.S. Library of Congress including interviews and personal recollections, quotes and sound files of famous speeches and songs, recruitment posters, photographs and illustrations.

Poetry for Veteran's Day - Good collection of poems commemorating the day including complete text for "In Flanders Fields", "I Have a Rendezvous With Death", "A Nation's Strength", and more.