Veterans Day 2026: Trump Leads Arlington Wreath-Laying as America Honours Its Veterans

Veterans Day 2026 falls on Wednesday 11 November, and America is marking the federal holiday with ceremonies across the country. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are attending the 73rd annual National Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery, where the President lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 a.m. before delivering remarks at 11:30 a.m.

The day honours every person who has served in the United States Armed Forces, in wartime or peacetime, living or dead. It is the most searched-for topic in the UK today, and it shares its date — and its roots — with Britain’s Armistice Day, which falls on the same Wednesday.

Arlington Sets the Tone for the 73rd National Observance

The 73rd annual National Veterans Day Observance is being held at 11 a.m. in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, and it is free and open to the public. A prelude begins at 10:30 a.m., performed by the United States Coast Guard Band with the U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants.

The wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is conducted by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, and attendance at that part of the ceremony remains limited to official participants, a rule in place since 2020. The wider observance, including the parade of colours by veterans’ organisations and remarks from dignitaries, is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to security checks. A live stream of the event is available through the military’s DVIDS service.

Vice President JD Vance and Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins are joining the President at Arlington. Collins said ahead of the day that Americans should never forget that the nation’s veterans are the reason they can vote, speak freely and enjoy the freedoms set out in the Constitution.

From Armistice to Veterans Day: 108 Years of 11 November

The date is no accident. Major hostilities in the First World War ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the armistice with Germany took effect. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day a year later, and Congress made 11 November a legal federal holiday in 1938, dedicating it to the cause of world peace.

The change to Veterans Day came after the Second World War. Raymond Weeks, a Navy veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, organised a celebration for all veterans on 11 November 1947 and pressed for a national day honouring everyone who had served, not only those of the First World War. Representative Ed Rees of Kansas introduced the bill, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law on 1 June 1954, replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans” in the holiday’s name.

The date itself was briefly moved. Under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was observed on the fourth Monday in October from 1971 to 1977. Public pressure over the loss of the historic date led President Gerald Ford to sign a law in 1975 returning the observance to 11 November, effective from 1978, where it has stayed ever since.

Parades and Ceremonies Across America

Beyond Arlington, towns and cities across the United States are holding parades and ceremonies today, most of them timed around the 11 a.m. hour. In Savannah, Georgia, the Veterans Day Parade turns 80 this year, stepping off at 10 a.m. from Abercorn and Gwinnett streets and pausing at 11:11 a.m. at the reviewing stand for a special observance, with more than 100 units taking part and every living past Veteran of the Year recipient serving as a grand marshal.

In California’s South Bay, Manhattan Beach holds its 29th annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m., while the Battleship IOWA in San Pedro marks the day with 21 tolls of the ship’s bell. In Reno, Nevada, the Veterans Day Parade begins at 11:11 a.m. in the downtown area, and Virginia City holds its annual parade along C Street at 11 a.m.

Many communities are pairing the ceremonies with practical help for veterans. Free meals, discounts and fundraisers run through the day, including a Veterans Bowl fundraiser in Reno and a free meal for veterans at VFW Post 660 in Savannah after the parade.

What Closes — and What Stays Open — on Veterans Day

Because Veterans Day is a federal holiday, post offices are closed and there is no regular mail delivery, with normal service resuming on Thursday 12 November. Federal offices are closed, and most branches of the major banks are closed too, since the Federal Reserve is shut for the day. ATMs and online banking keep working, although transactions may not process until the next business day.

The financial markets split in two. The stock markets stay open, with the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq trading normal hours, because Veterans Day is not on their 2026 holiday lists. The bond market, by contrast, is closed for the day on the recommendation of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Schools and state and local offices vary by state and district, so families are advised to check local listings. Most shops, restaurants and grocery stores stay open, and many are offering free meals and discounts to veterans today.

How Britain Marks the Same Date

In Britain, the same date is Armistice Day, marked by a two-minute silence at 11 a.m. at war memorials and in workplaces, schools and public places. The main national ceremony, Remembrance Sunday, was held three days earlier, on Sunday 8 November, when King Charles III led the nation in silence at the Cenotaph and laid a wreath of 41 poppy petals. Our report on Remembrance Sunday 2026 at the Cenotaph sets out the full service, including the march-past of around 10,000 veterans.

The story behind the King’s wreath — and why it carries exactly 41 petals — is explained in our report on the 41-poppies wreath at Remembrance Sunday. The Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, where thousands of small wooden crosses are planted by families and regiments, stays open daily from 6 to 15 November, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The two countries mark the same hour in different ways. America uses the day to honour the living as well as the dead, while Britain’s Armistice Day silence is a moment of remembrance for those who did not come home. Both trace back to the same minute: 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When is Veterans Day 2026?
A: Veterans Day 2026 falls on Wednesday 11 November 2026. It is always observed on 11 November, whatever day of the week that is.

Q: What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
A: Veterans Day honours everyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces, living or dead. Memorial Day, on the last Monday in May, honours specifically those who died in military service.

Q: Is the post office open on Veterans Day?
A: No. Post offices are closed on 11 November and there is no regular mail delivery. Normal service resumes on Thursday 12 November.

Q: Is the stock market open on Veterans Day?
A: Yes. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq trade normal hours, because Veterans Day is not a stock market holiday. The bond market is closed.

Q: Who lays the wreath at Arlington on Veterans Day?
A: President Donald Trump lays the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11 a.m., as part of the 73rd annual National Veterans Day Observance. Attendance at the wreath-laying itself is limited to official participants.

Q: Why is Veterans Day on 11 November?
A: The date marks the armistice that ended the fighting in the First World War, which took effect at 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918. The holiday was first called Armistice Day and was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

What People Often Get Wrong

A common mix-up is to treat Veterans Day and Memorial Day as the same holiday. They are not. Veterans Day, in November, honours all who have served, while Memorial Day, in May, honours those who died in service. Another misunderstanding is that everything closes for Veterans Day. Federal offices, post offices and most banks do close, but shops, restaurants and the stock markets stay open, and many businesses offer discounts to veterans.