Where generations of service come together
We built The National Military Monument™ at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to honor our veterans. There, millions of names trace an unbroken history of two and a half centuries of American military service. We celebrate the veteran behind each name and all they gave to our country.
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Experience the monument
Search for a name in person or online, whether your own or someone you know who served.
The lasting impact of service
In ways big and small, veterans have protected our freedoms and helped make the lives we enjoy possible. And while thanking them for their service can mean a lot, taking the time to build a genuine connection with the veterans in your life can mean even more. This Veterans Day and throughout the year, we can all show veterans how much they’re valued.
The history of Veterans Day
Veterans Day honors the men and women who served in the U.S. military, in wartime and in peacetime. Its roots go back more than a century to the World War I armistice.
Establishing a national observance
November 11, 1918
The armistice that ended the fighting in World War I took effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
1919
President Woodrow Wilson commemorated the first anniversary of the armistice with the first Armistice Day, dedicated to world peace.
1938
Congress officially recognized Armistice Day as a legal public holiday.
Expanding to honor all veterans
1947
Navy veteran Raymond Weeks organized the first Veterans Day celebration in Birmingham, beginning a movement to honor those who served.
1954
President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day, broadening the observance to honor all veterans.
1968
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the observance of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, beginning in 1971.
Returning to its historic roots
1975
President Gerald Ford signed a law returning Veterans Day to Nov. 11. The change took effect in 1978.
November 11, 2026
This Veterans Day, we celebrate generations of American veterans whose service has helped protect our country for 250 years.
On Veterans Day and every day
Honoring veterans is about more than what we say. It's also about how we show up for them throughout the year.
That belief is the heart of Honor Through Action. With a $500 million investment over five years, USAA is working to expand access to meaningful careers, build greater financial security and support the well-being of veterans and their families.
Taking care of the military community is a commitment we live every day.