Is Veterans Day Just For Retired
Veterans Day is an inclusive observance for all individuals who have served in the United States Armed Forces, not exclusively for those who are retired. The holiday honors anyone who has served in the military, whether on active duty or separated from service, and regardless of the length of their service or their retirement status. A veteran is formally defined as a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and who was separated under any condition other than dishonorable. The distinction lies in the act of service itself rather than its duration. A person who completed a single four-year enlistment term is honored on Veterans Day just as a service member who completed a 20-year career and formally retired. This broad scope differentiates Veterans Day from Memorial Day, which specifically honors military personnel who died in the line of duty. Veterans Day originated as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, and its purpose was later expanded by law to honor American veterans of all wars, recognizing the contributions of all living individuals who have served. ...