By Donna Reuss
Alexandria, VA – On November 11, American communities will hold parades, moments of silence, and other activities to thank and honor our 19.2 million-plus U.S. Armed Forces veterans. Originally proclaimed as Armistice Day in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson to honor the soldiers of World War I, President Eisenhower renamed it Veterans Day in 1954 to encompass veterans of all wars.
In Washington, DC, the World War I (WWI) Doughboy Foundation will host its Bells of Peace Ceremony at the WWI Memorial to honor American military members and those from other nations who served alongside them in the Great War. Do those countries also celebrate their veterans on November 11?
Nearly every country designates an annual day to honor those who served, often as a national holiday. Celebrations vary across European countries. Some mark November 11; others use dates more relevant to their histories. Some honor all veterans on that day; others pay tribute to their war dead. In many cases, days originally designated to honor WWI servicemembers have been renamed, or broadened to encompass veterans of all wars and conflicts.
For example, Belgium and France still call it Armistice Day. In Canada and Australia, it is Remembrance Day. Canada’s day honors all veterans; in Australia, only the fallen. Instead, Australia and New Zealand commemorate those who served or died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations on ANZAC Day, April 25.
Great Britain also celebrates Remembrance Day, on the Sunday nearest to November 11. The Irish conduct a WWI memorial at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on November 11, but Irish Defense Forces and veterans’ groups organize various annual veteran recognition events.
Croatia does not observe Armistice Day, Serbia does, but both have separate veterans days. Italians celebrate National Unity and Armed Forces Day on November 4, the date WWI ended for Italy. Norway’s Veterans Day is V-E Day. Denmark was a neutral country during WWI, but celebrates veterans on its Flag Day, September 5. Poland celebrates specific veterans on various dates throughout the year, as does Israel. And on July 15, 2024, Germany marked its first Veterans Day since World War II.
Although centered in Europe, WWI was a global conflict. Allied Forces also fought the Central Powers in the Middle East, Africa, China, Indian Ocean, Pacific Islands, and off the coasts of North and South America.
Former British colony Bermuda celebrates Remembrance Day on November 11, while Nigeria celebrates Armed Forces Recognition Day on January 15 to coincide with the end of its civil war in 1970. Kenya celebrates Armistice Day two weeks later than the rest of the world due to the delay in news of the armistice reaching the region.
Few Asian countries formally observe the date, but several Pacific nations with historical ties to Great Britain, France, Australia, and New Zealand continue to do so. In India, WWI and WWII remembrance services are held on November 11 in former colonial enclaves but its Defense Forces Veterans Day is January 14. Japan celebrates neither Armistice Day nor Veterans Day. War victims are remembered on various dates to strengthen Japan’s constitutional commitment to peace.
This Veterans Day, join those across the country and around the world in honoring all veterans who served to make the world a better place!
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If you are a veteran or know a veteran or family member who needs help, go to Virginia Board Veterans Services at www.dvs.virginia.gov/dvs; or contact American Legion Post 24 Veteran Service Officer at [email protected]. For crisis intervention and suicide prevention, dial 988 and Press 1, or text 838255 for the Veterans Crisis Line.
