Every year on Nov. 11, the nation pauses to recognize Veterans Day. But the Department of Defense says there is a bit of confusion about whom the day honors.
THE QUESTION
Does Veterans Day honor active-duty service members?
THE SOURCES
THE ANSWER
No, Veterans Day does not honor active-duty service members. It honors those who previously served.
WHAT WE FOUND
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval or air service, and was discharged or released under honorable conditions.
The VA describes Veterans Day as a “day set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime.”
“Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served have sacrificed and done their duty,” the VA writes on its website.
Unlike Veterans Day, the United Service Organizations (USO) says Armed Forces Day is considered the proper day to honor all of the men and women currently serving in the U.S. military, as well as those who have served and sacrificed to defend the nation’s freedom. In 2022, Armed Forces Day will be held on Saturday, May 21.
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