In the United States, Veterans' Day is a federal holiday celebrated on November 11. To many, it is just another day off from school or work. But to veterans – men and women who have served our country in the armed forces – the day has a much deeper meaning. To them, it symbolizes the commitment they made to our country while serving in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard. Veterans' Day is a reminder to us that these people risked their lives in order to ensure peace for our nation.

Veterans' Day was originally called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, when Germany surrendered at 11 o'clock on November 11, 1918. To celebrate, those who had survived the war marched in hometown parades, officers and politicians made speeches of gratitude to the soldiers, and bands played patriotic music. Most importantly, however, people observed a few minutes of silence at eleven o'clock.

However, the peace did not last. The year after Congress proclaimed the holiday, World War II began raging in Europe. It was even worse than the First World War, with some 50 million people losing their lives. Over 16 million Americans took part in the war, and half a million lost their lives in order to bring about world peace again.

In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill proclaiming November 11 as Veterans' Day. Many people did not know that Veterans' Day was not always observed on November 11. In 1968, Congress changed the national commemoration of Veterans' Day to the fourth Monday in October. Due to public outcry, however, Congress realized that November 11 held historic significance for many people and returned the observance to its original date in 1978. Today, it remains on November 11.

Today, Veteran's Day in the U.S. is much more of a quiet observance than early Armistice Day celebrations. After the United States involvement in the Vietnam War, military parades and ceremonies became less common and people shifted their focus to the avoidance of all future wars. Everywhere, people observe a moment of silence in honor of those who fought for peace in an American War.