Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is recognized annually on November 11.1
This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to celebrating Veterans Day. It contains CRS reports, selected speeches and remarks from the Congressional Record, presidential proclamations and remarks, and statistical data. It also contains links to additional web resources from authoritative sources.
Veterans Day has its roots in Armistice Day. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11, 1919, the first Armistice Day, in recognition of the anniversary of the armistice that marked the end of the most destructive fighting during World War I.
For additional history, refer to the Department of Veterans Affairs' "History of Veterans Day" page.
On June 1, 1954, Congress passed Public Law 83-380, which designated November 11 as Veterans Day, a day to honor all American veterans.2
The Congressional Research Service has prepared numerous reports that relate to American veterans. Some of these include the following:
CRS Report R44837, Benefits for Service-Disabled Veterans, by Madeline E. Moreno et al.
CRS In Focus IF10555, Introduction to Veterans Health Care, by Sidath Viranga Panangala et al.
CRS Report R49347, Overview of the Department of Veterans Affairs FY2027 Appropriations, by Sidath Viranga Panangala.
CRS Report R42755, The Post-9/11 GI Bill: A Primer, by Cassandria Dortch.
CRS Report R47299, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Who Is a Veteran?, by Madeline E. Moreno.
CRS In Focus IF10490, Veterans' Employment, by Benjamin Collins.
CRS In Focus IF10167, Veterans and Homelessness, by Libby Perl.
CRS Report R46412, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs): Frequently Asked Questions, by Tamar B. Breslauer.
CRS In Focus IF11886, Veteran Suicide Prevention, by Michele L. Malloy et al.
Elected officials often deliver speeches, make floor statements, issue press releases, or enter Extensions of Remarks into the Congressional Record to recognize federal holidays and observances. The following are some recent examples:
Senator Eric Schmitt, "Recognizing Veterans Day," remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, vol. 171, no. 211 (December 15, 2025), p. S8728.
Senator Tammy Duckworth, "In Chicago, Duckworth Honors Veterans and Celebrates Veterans Day," (November 11, 2025). Retrieved from the official website of Senator Duckworth.
Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand, "Gillibrand Statement on Veterans Day" (November 11, 2025). Retrieved from the official website of Senator Gillibrand.
Senator Chuck Grassley, "Veterans Day," remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, vol. 171, no. 186 (November 6, 2025), p. S7931.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, "Veterans Day," remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record, vol. 170, no. 166 (November 12, 2024), p. S6502.
Representative Aaron Bean, "Celebrating Veterans Day," remarks in the House of Representatives, Congressional Record, vol. 169, no. 184 (November 7, 2023), p. H5473.
Representative John Joyce, "Recognizing Our Servicemembers on Veterans Day," remarks in the House of Representatives, Congressional Record, vol. 169, no. 183 (November 6, 2023), p. H5407.
Representative Nancy Pelosi, "Pelosi Statement on Veterans Day" (November 11, 2022). Retrieved from the official website of Representative Pelosi.
One of the many uses of a presidential proclamation is to ceremoniously honor a group or call attention to certain issues or events. Some recent Veterans Day proclamations and remarks, from the Compilation of Presidential Documents, include the following:
Presidential Proclamations and Remarks—President Donald J. Trump (2025-)3
Presidential Proclamations and Remarks—President Joseph R. Biden (2021-2025)
Presidential Proclamations and Remarks—President Donald J. Trump (2017-2021)4
Presidential Proclamations and Remarks—President Barack H. Obama (2009-2017)
Presidential Proclamations and Remarks—President George W. Bush (2001-2009)
Presidential proclamations and remarks from 1993 to the present are available through the GovInfo service on the U.S. Government Publishing Office website. Earlier remarks (including some audio and video clips) are available through The American Presidency Project, established by the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Several federal agencies maintain statistics on American veterans. Some useful sources of data and information on veterans include the following:
Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics.
U.S. Census Bureau, gateway resource page on Veterans.
U.S. Census Bureau, other Veterans resources for data and information:
U.S. Census Bureau, Honoring Veterans Across Tribal Nations;
U.S. Census Bureau, Veterans Day;
U.S. Census Bureau, Census Bureau Releases New Veteran Employment Outcomes; and
U.S. Census Bureau, Report—Aging Veterans: America's Veterans in Later Life.
Library of Congress, Veterans History Project
National Archives, Veterans' Service Records
Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration
Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day-November 11
National Archives, Veterans Day—Resources at the National Archives
National Park Service, celebration of Veterans Day and an index to Park Service memorials and sites that commemorate and honor the American military
| 1. |
Veterans Day is always recognized on November 11. However, according to 5 U.S.C. §6103, when November 11 falls on a Saturday, Friday, November 10 is observed as the holiday for most of the federal government. When November 11 falls on a Sunday, the federal government holiday is observed on Monday, November 12. |
| 2. |
An Act (52 Stat. 351; previously codified at 5 U.S.C. §87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." |
| 3. |
Link provides access to proclamations and remarks made by President Trump during both of his terms, where available. |
| 4. |
Link provides access to proclamations and remarks made by President Trump during both of his terms, where available. |