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Veterans Day is an annual federal holiday in the United States that honors military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces (that were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable). It falls on the same day as other commemorative holidays such as Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which commemorate the end of World War I in other countries. When the Armistice with Germany entered into force at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, major hostilities in World War I were effectively terminated. On the request of key veteran organizations in the United States, President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954.
Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day, a May public holiday in the United States. Veterans Day honors all U.S. military veterans, whereas Memorial Day honors those who died while serving in the military. Armed Forces Day, another May military holiday, commemorates individuals currently serving in the United States military. Women Veterans Day is also observed by a rising number of states in the United States, which celebrate women who have served in the military.
While the holiday is commonly written as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day in calendars and advertisements, the official spelling is attributive (no apostrophe) rather than possessive "because it is not a day that 'belongs' to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans," according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs website.
