Veterans Day in the US celebrates those who have served in the armed forces

Veterans Day is a federal holiday observed every November 11 to honor all United States military veterans.

The date is also celebrated in other countries as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, because it marks the anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Millions of people died in the so-called Great War, which took place mainly in Europe from 1914 to 1918, with the United States suffering more than 100,000 casualties.

The commemoration is different from that of the memorial day o Memorial Day, which is a national holiday on the last Monday in May. Veterans Day celebrates all military veterans even if they did not die in service.

On this day, school classes are suspended, mail is not delivered, and non-essential federal agencies close their doors.

The main activity takes place at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where the President of the United States places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument that attracts millions of visitors each year.

To honor that tradition, Vice President Kamala Harris, taking over for traveling President Joe Biden, will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery outside the US capital on Friday.

At that grave, which turns 100 in 2021, people can honor not only the unknown soldier, who died in World War I, but all soldiers, known and unknown, who have given their lives in America’s wars. .

President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 the first commemoration of Armistice Day later in 1919, and it officially became a national federal holiday in 1938. In 1954, after World War II, the US Congress changed the day to Veterans Day to honor veterans of all American wars.

But there are also other activities in states and localities that honor veterans.

This year, for example, both veterans and active duty military will receive free meals, discounts and coupons at restaurants and quick service chains across the country.

Among them are Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Cream, Olive Garden, Outback, Applebee’s, IHOP, Denny’s, Hooters, Wendy’s, and more.

Veterans and military will only need to show proof of identification or visit the venue in uniform.

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