Honoring Those Who Served and Remembering Those Lost This Veterans/Remembrance Day
Content warning: This blog article discusses mental health and suicide among veterans.
Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada and the United Kingdom both fall on November 11 and share a solemn purpose: to honor those who have served, sacrificed, and, in many cases, given their lives in military service. These observances invite reflection, gratitude, and a renewed commitment to supporting veterans and their families in tangible, meaningful ways.
What We Commemorate
Veterans Day in the U.S. is a national holiday dedicated to honoring all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in peace and in war, whether living or deceased, with special emphasis on thanking living veterans for their service. Remembrance Day in Canada and the UK is focused more specifically on remembering those who died in service, particularly in the First World War and subsequent conflicts, and honoring their memory and legacy.
Both observances are rooted in the armistice that ended the fighting of the First World War on November 11, 1918, symbolized by the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” This shared origin underscores how that conflict reshaped nations and led to enduring traditions of commemoration on both sides of the Atlantic.
History and evolution of the holidays
In the U.S., November 11 was first observed as Armistice Day, a day of thanksgiving, prayer, and public ceremonies marking the end of World War I, and in 1938 it became a legal holiday dedicated to world peace and honoring World War I veterans. After World War II and the Korean War, the day was broadened, and in 1954 its name was officially changed to Veterans Day so that it would honor American veterans of all wars.
Canada and the UK developed their own Remembrance traditions after the First World War, including two minutes of silence and the adoption of the poppy as a symbol of remembrance, drawing on the imagery of battlefields where poppies grew over soldiers’ graves. Over time, Remembrance Day in these countries has come to encompass all conflicts and peacekeeping operations, honoring both the fallen and those who have served in more recent missions.
How these days are observed
In the United States, a National Veterans Day Ceremony takes place each year at Arlington National Cemetery, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and followed by ceremonies in the Memorial Amphitheater. Communities across the country hold parades, observances at local memorials and cemeteries, and events organized by veterans’ organizations, schools, and civic groups.
In Canada and the UK, Remembrance Day is often marked by ceremonies at national and local memorials, including the laying of wreaths, the recitation of traditional words of remembrance, and moments of silence at 11:00 a.m. on November 11. Many people wear poppies, attend services, and participate in educational and commemorative activities during Veterans’ Week in Canada and the broader remembrance period in the UK.
Gratitude for service and sacrifice
These observances are first and foremost an opportunity to say “thank you” to all who have served in uniform, whether in times of major war, smaller operations, or peacekeeping missions. The courage, discipline, and sense of duty that service members and veterans embody are integral to the freedoms and security that many communities enjoy today.
They are also a time to acknowledge the profound sacrifices made not only by veterans themselves but also by their families, who endure separations, repeated moves, uncertainty, and the lasting effects of service-related injuries and trauma. Honoring veterans and their families means recognizing that these sacrifices do not end when uniforms are hung up or when a deployment concludes.
Challenges facing veterans today
Many veterans experience socioeconomic challenges in the transition to civilian life, including difficulties translating military experience into civilian employment, financial instability, and housing concerns. These pressures can be compounded for those who also live with disabilities, chronic health conditions, or the ongoing effects of trauma. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans in the US, more than 5% of America’s unhoused adults are veterans.
Physical injuries—from visible wounds to chronic pain and service-connected illnesses—continue long after military service ends and often require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and adaptive support. Mental and behavioral health needs, including post-traumatic stress, depression, substance use, and moral injury, are also significant and can affect employment, relationships, and overall quality of life if left unaddressed. The 2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, which analyzes Veteran suicide data from 2001 to 2022, reports that 6,407 Veterans died by suicide in 2022, nearly 18 people each day. While its hard to know if or how much of each individual’s military service may have contributed to their death, the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs says that the suicide rate among veterans is 1.5 times higher than that of the general population. Like any high-risk group, it is important that as a society we carefully study the conditions that have created this heightened risk and work to care for veterans the way they have so dutifully cared for and served their country.
Call to action for society and government
Honoring veterans and those we remember on November 11 calls for more than annual ceremonies. It asks communities to prioritize access to quality health care, mental health support, housing, education, and meaningful work for veterans and their families year-round. Support can take the form of hiring initiatives, accessible services, community-based outreach, and strong partnerships between governments, nonprofits, and local organizations.
Governments must uphold and strengthen their commitments to veterans and their families, including timely access to benefits, fair disability compensation, comprehensive care, and support during and after the transition to civilian life. Advocacy through policy engagement, public education, and ongoing community involvement helps ensure that the promises made to those who served are fully honored, not just on Veterans Day or Remembrance Day, but every day of the year.
Sources:
History of Veterans Day – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Day – U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Day 2025 | Military.com
Remembrance Day – Government of Canada
2024 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report | US Veterans Administration
Veterans are at higher risk for suicide. Psychologists are helping them tackle their unique struggles | American Psychological Association