When Is Veterans Day 2015? Date, History, And Quotes For The Day Celebrating America’s Veterans


Veterans Day 2015 is almost here, but the holiday’s middle-of-the-week celebration has many people confused and taking to the internet to find out exactly when it’s celebrated.

So just when is Veterans Day? It is celebrated every year on November 11 regardless of what day of the week if falls, which means this year it will be celebrated on Wednesday. This is also when the Veterans Day National Ceremony will be held, though local communities often choose to hold events or parades on the weekend either before or after the holiday itself.

This means that federal government closings will take place on Wednesday. State and local governments sometimes follow suit and also close, but they are not required to. Many businesses choose to remain open, while others — including some banks — will be closed on Veterans Day 2015.

As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs notes, some schools will also be closed on Veteran Day 2015 — though not all.

“Because there is no legal requirement that schools close on Veterans Day, individual states or school districts are free to establish their own policies on school closings. Most schools that do not close for Veterans Day schedule assemblies or other activities to honor America’s veterans on Veterans Day and throughout the week that includes Veterans Day.”

Veterans Day History

So now that you know when Veterans Day 2015 will be celebrated, on to a bit of history. The day — November 11 — marks the end of World War I, and was originally known in the United States as Armistice Day. This changed in 1954, when it became officially known as Veterans Day.

The holiday is also celebrated in a number of other countries, where it is still known as Armistice Day or as Remembrance Day.

https://instagram.com/p/6549K8KTmA/?taken-by=deptvetaffairs

Many people confuse it with Memorial Day, which is celebrated in May and honors military personnel who died in service of the country.

“While those who died are also remembered, Veterans Day is the day set aside to thank and honor ALL those who served honorably in the military – in wartime or peacetime,” the VA noted. “In fact, Veterans Day is largely intended to thank LIVING veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served – not only those who died – have sacrificed and done their duty.”

While Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 now, it wasn’t always that way. Or almost, at least. Back in 1968, Congress proposed changing it to the fourth Monday in October, but the measure was defeated because of the historic significance of November 11, Al noted.

Veterans Day Quotes

Are you looking to celebrate Veterans Day 2015 by showing your appreciation for our nation’s veterans? Here are some great patriotic quotes that put the day in context (and are great for sharing on social media).

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
— John F. Kennedy

Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.
— Abraham Lincoln

Looking for a patriotic tweet? Here are the best Veterans Day 2015 quotes under 140 characters.

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
— Elmer Davis

You’d have to go a long way to find someone who was more proud and grateful for what our veterans have done for all of us.
— Jim Davis

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.
— Billy Graham

Have a great Veterans Day 2015, and remember to thanks those veterans for the sacrifices they have made for our country.

[Picture by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

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