It may not be prosperous for most people to accept , but certain nationalholidaysoften get a niggling muddled in their minds — namely , Memorial Day and Veterans Day . Clearly , the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has seen and/or been asked about the confusedness enough prison term that it has gone forwards and give some infinite onits websiteto explaining the difference of opinion between these two likewise themed , but very dissimilar , holidays .
Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day: When are they observed?
Memorial Day and Veterans Day are held about six calendar month apart : Veterans Day is celebrated every November 11 , while Memorial Day takes stead on the last Monday of May as part of a three - Clarence Day weekend that ’s typically wad with parade and plenty of retail sale promotion .
In 2025 , it will be notice on Monday , May 26 . You probably realize both holiday are intended to acknowledge the contributions of those braw individuals who have serve in the United States military , but you may not recall the of import distinction between the two . To understand that difference , we break it down a bit more below .
Who does Veterans Day honor?
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day . It wasfirst observedon November 11 , 1919 , the one - year anniversary of the end ofWorld War I. Congress passed a firmness of purpose stool it an annual watching in 1926 . It became a national holiday in 1938 . In 1954 , President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day torecognizeveterans of the two world warfare . The intent is to fete all military stager , living or beat , who have serve the country , with an emphasis on thanking the people in our lives who have spent time in uniform for their overhaul to the United States .
What makes Memorial Day different from Veterans Day?
Memorial Day is also a festivity of military veterans , but the humour is more somber . The occasion isreservedfor those who died while answer their country . The day was first observe in the wake of the Civil War , where local communities organized tributes around the gravesites of come down soldiers . The observation was originally called Decoration Day , because the graves were adorned with prime .
It was originally withstand on May 30 because that date was n’t the anniversary for any fight in particular and all soldiers could be honored . ( The date was recognized by northern states , with southern states choosing unlike days . ) After World War I , the twenty-four hours shift from commemorate devolve servicemembers in the Civil War to those who had buy the farm in any of America ’s conflicts . It gradually became know as Memorial Day and , in 1971 , was declare a Union holiday and impress to the last Monday in May to organise a three - day weekend .
The easiest way to recall of thetwo holidaysis to consider Veterans Day a time to rock the mitt of a old-timer who place upright up for our freedoms . Memorial Day is a time to commemorate and honour those who are no longer around to receive your gratitude personally .
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A version of this story incline in 2019 ; it has been update for 2025 .
