“Veterans Day Honors All Who Served” by MRFF Board Member John Compere on Our Annual National Holiday which Began on Armistice Day in World War I

“VETERANS DAY” is our annual national holiday on November 11th honoring all military veterans. This recognition of our military veterans pays tribute to those patriotic men and women, living or deceased, who served our country honorably in the United States Armed Forces during war or peace for any length of service and are no longer serving. It also includes Reservists or National Guard members who were called to active duty or disabled during duty or training.

There are 17 million veterans living in the United States with 1.5 million in Texas. There are more veterans in Texas than any other state.

The genesis for Veterans Day was the World War I armistice declared at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Originally commemorated as Armistice Day in 1919 by congressional resolution and presidential proclamation, it became Veterans Day in 1954 by federal law enacted by Congress and signed by President Dwight Eisenhower.

Veterans Day is a legal federal holiday and official flag display day pursuant to 5 United States Code 6103. All federal government offices are closed. State, county and city governments are requested to fly the American flag. Flag handling requirements are found at 4 United States Code 1. The correct spelling is the attributive “Veterans Day” with no apostrophe (i.e. Veterans’ Day and Veteran’s Day are incorrect).

Parades, ceremonies, celebrations and events honoring our veterans are held throughout the country. A ceremonial wreath laying by our President is held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery (also on Memorial Day).

The 2026 Veterans Day theme is “Veterans Helping Veterans and their Families” . The official 2026 Veterans Day poster brings together the enduring symbols of our nation’s history with the continued legacy of military service and recognizes America’s 250th anniversary. It combines the modern American flag with the earliest American flag connecting the founding of the United States with the generations of Veterans who have defended our freedoms. The poster will be displayed in VA facilities, military installations and municipal buildings across America.

“Veterans Day” should not be confused with “Memorial Day” on the last Monday in May memorializing military members who gave their lives in the service of our country or “Armed Forces Day” on the 3rd Saturday in May honoring men and women currently serving in the military. Veterans Day is for those who hung up their uniform, Memorial Day is for those who never made it out of their uniform and Armed Forces Day is for those still serving in their uniform. We recognize three distinct military service categories with three different national observances.

The sworn oath of military service is to support, defend and bear true faith and allegiance to “the Constitution of the United States”. Military veterans know it is the affirmation that we are one nation under the Constitution and it is the Constitution in which we must trust. Fidelity to our secular Constitution was an essential element of their faithful service as it continues to be for all military men and women serving today.

Veterans Day is a special time for honoring those men and women who have rendered honorable military service to the United States of America. Their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good are the reasons Americans continue to have the independence, freedom and democracy we cherish and enjoy today.

John Compere
Brigadier General, Judge Advocate General’s Corps, US Army (Retired)
Former Chief Judge, US Army Judiciary
Disabled American Veteran (Vietnam Era)
Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation
Texas rancher

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