The term "Veterans Day" is a proper noun referring specifically to the federal holiday observed in the United States on November 11. While the name itself is uniquely American, the date and its historical significance are shared internationally. Many other nations, particularly in Europe and the Commonwealth, also hold national observances on this day to honor their own armed forces members, though these holidays are known by different names, such as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day.
The shared origin of these holidays is the armistice that ended World War I, which went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Initially, the United States, along with other allied nations, commemorated this date as Armistice Day. However, after World War II and the Korean War, the U.S. Congress passed legislation in 1954 to amend the holiday's name to Veterans Day. This change was enacted to broaden the observance to honor all American veterans of all wars, not just those who served in World War I. In contrast, Commonwealth countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia observe Remembrance Day, which primarily honors military personnel who died in the line of duty, while countries like France and Belgium continue to call the holiday Armistice Day.
Therefore, the key distinction is one of both name and scope. "Veterans Day" is the American holiday specifically intended to thank and honor all military veterans, with a particular emphasis on living veterans who served honorably. The equivalent holidays in other countries, such as Remembrance Day, are often more somber occasions focused on commemorating the war dead. While the act of observing November 11th as a day of military remembrance is an international tradition, the specific holiday known as Veterans Day is exclusive to the United States.
