Veterans Day 2024 is almost here, and you may be wondering how you can best honor those who served on this special occasion. We share five ways you can celebrate this Veterans Day.
The history of Veterans Day
Veterans Day is a day designated for honoring and thanking those who served our country. The holiday always falls on Nov. 11, meaning this year Veterans Day falls on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Veterans Day should not be confused with Memorial Day, which is specifically meant to honor those who lost their lives while fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Veterans Day as we know it stems from Armistice Day, which was first celebrated on Nov. 11, 1919. This date was chosen because at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918, fighting in World War I ceased in an agreement to end hostilities, also known as an armistice, which was considered by many to be the “end” of World War I. (The war did not officially end until the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919.). Armistice Day was continuously celebrated over the following decades, and became a federal holiday in 1938.
While there were some “Veterans Day” celebrations on Nov. 11 through the 1940s and 50s, it was not until 1954 that President Eisenhower legally changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day, “a day to honor American veterans of all wars.” The holiday provides a chance to give thanks to all veterans who honorably served our country.
How can I honor all those who served on Veterans Day 2024?
1. Attend an event. Military.com has an extensive list of parades, ceremonies, and other celebrations happening across the country for Veterans Day 2024. They are listed in alphabetical order by state. Many of these events allow attendees to thank and honor veterans in or near their own community. Others offer opportunities for education, reflection, and remembrance. These events create a space for vets to receive the recognition they deserve for their service to our country.
2. Give to a worthy cause that helps veterans. There are a wide range of nonprofits and organizations dedicated to helping and honoring veterans. Some of these organizations may work with specific types of vets like those wounded or disabled during service. Others are working to eliminate food and housing insecurity among veterans.
Perhaps you have a certain cause that is close to your heart or a veteran you would like to give a gift in honor of. A gift can be of your time or money, whatever works best for you. Your gift has the potential to impact veterans long after Veterans Day ends.
We recommend doing your research carefully when choosing a cause to donate to or volunteer for. The AARP offers advice on recognizing veteran charity scams. You can also use websites like Charity Navigator or Better Business Bureau’s Give.org to find more information about a nonprofit. Military.com offers this list of noteworthy veteran organizations to begin with.
3. Thank a veteran, and mean it. If you have friends, family members, neighbors, or coworkers who have served, you can take a moment to show your appreciation. It may be hard to know what to say. Speak sincerely from the heart or offer up some other gesture that will brighten their day, like taking them to lunch.
While this is something we may think of more on Veterans Day, a simple but heartfelt “thank you” is something we can offer any day of the year.
4. Support a veteran-owned business. Your community likely has one or more shops, restaurants, or other businesses owned and operated by veterans. If you do not already know of such a place in your town, ask around or do some research online to find veteran-owned businesses in your area.
This is another great option to consider starting this Veterans Day that you can continue all year round. You can also continue to show support by leaving a positive review of their operation and spreading the word about their good work to others. Your support helps ensure these veteran-owned businesses can continue to thrive.
5. Listen to a veteran’s story. While some veterans prefer their privacy and may not wish to discuss their service with you, others are eager to share their stories. Listening to veterans’ stories helps us understand the reasons we honor and thank them on Veterans Day. They give us insight into the challenges they faced, sacrifices they made, and comforts they gave up to keep our country safe and protect our freedoms.
Veterans who want to share their experiences deserve to be heard. You may have someone in your life who you think would like to tell you about their service this Veterans Day.
If not, there are a variety of places where veterans’ stories can be watched online including the YouTube channels Memoirs of WWII, American Veterans Center, and Urban Valor. Additionally, stories can be found through the Library of Congress’ website and The Veterans History Project.
While the parades and ceremonies may end, there are many things we can do each day to continue honoring and thanking veterans for their service to our country and its people. From all of us at Woods and Woods, happy Veterans Day!
