Veterans Day Quick History
November 11, 2026 will mark the 108th year that the Allied nations and Germany reached an armistice, cessation of fighting, during World War I in 1918, which led to the eventual ending of the first world war in June 1919. The armistice was marked at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 1918. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. It was a day of jubilation exhibited with parades, suspension of business, and an expression of “solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory . . . “ as stated by Wilson (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2024).
In 1926, Congress passed a resolution that November 11 would be honored annually, with “thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations,” (History.com Editors, n.d.). In 1938, it became a federal holiday, and after World War II and the Korean War, in 1954 Congress amended the 1938 act for Armistice Day to become known as Veterans Day, henceforth, a day to recognize all American soldiers living or dead. In contrast, Memorial Day is a holiday to honor those soldiers who laid down their life in service of their country.
One of the time-honored traditions for both Veterans Day and Memorial day is to lay a wreath or flag at the tombstone of a veteran who has passed as a way to remember and honor their service.
Arlington National Cemetery Spotlight
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) is the largest military cemetery in the U.S., established during the Civil War, and is located in Arlington, Virginia. On every Veterans Day at 11:00 am., a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier followed by a parade of colors (flags) held by Veteran organizations and speeches given by dignitaries. You can see the information about this year’s Veterans Day Celebration at Arlington National Cemetery.
You can see the Veterans Day 2026 Teachers Guide from ANC.
At ANC, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument honoring those soldiers who died but whose remains were not identified. A soldier guards this tomb 24/7, 365 days a year. There is a “changing of the guard” every 30 or 60 minutes, depending on the time of year. Every year, visitors and students alike take a trip to ANC, and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Yet practically, most students will be unable to visit Arlington National Cemetery with their classrooms.
Arlington Honor Map – Map Activity and Tribute for Veterans Day
As a way to give all students the ability to honor servicemembers, learn about the history of Veterans Day and to learn about the identity of some of these incredible individuals laid to rest there, Tom Baker has developed the Arlington Honor Map, powered by Esri maps.
For this Veterans Day, the Arlington Honor Map identifies 43 notable people’s graves and/or monuments at ANC. These include leaders and justices, civil rights leaders, military heroes, contributors to advancements in science and space, those who were from arts and sports, and other memorial sites, including the Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial, and of course, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Let’s give students their opportunity to explore Arlington National Cemetery and pay tribute this Veterans Day.
How to lay a wreath or place a flag.
- Open the Arlington Honor Map and explore the cemetery. Zoom in and click on any of the numbered sites.
2. Explore and click through the various names and sites. On the right column, each grave marker will provide a quick bio of that person, their life years, and gives you an opportunity to pay a tribute. See the example below of John F. Kennedy's grave.
I can choose to place a flag, lay a wreath, and provide a note and sign my contribution. When you scroll back to the grave site, you will find your wreath or flag there. On the Honor Wall, your tribute note will also show. Note, no personal information is saved to the site.
See a quick video of how to lay a wreath and provide a message tribute for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
This would be an engaging classroom activity that will serve to teach students about the history of Veterans Day and offer them a way to join in the festivities of this national holiday. Not all classrooms will have the opportunity to visit Arlington National Cemetery and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and learn about American history with an in-person trip, but now they can join in digitally with the Arlington Honor Map.
Conversation starters to pose to your students
- Pick a few recognizable names and ask if their students have heard of these people. For example, Colin Powell who passed in 2021, the first African American Secretary of State, may be recognizable to some.
- Point out the Space Shuttle Columbia Memorial. With advances in space exploration these days, it may be nice to share the precursor situations of sacrifice that led to where we stand now with technology.
- Call out the four Kennedys on the Honor Map. You can share about this family dynasty in American history and the eternal flame monument that burns at the gravesite.
- Explore the cemetery through GIS. Experiment with the map layers and explore the natural environment around the cemetery along with the city layout. This can lead into a discussion of how GIS can lay the foundation for any subject, including history and the honored Arlington National Cemetery.
Happy Veterans Day.
Arlington Honor Map
Sincerely,
The Esri Education Team
References
History.com Editors. (n.d.). Veterans Day 2026. Retrieved from History: https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-veterans-day
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. (2024, June 10). History of Veterans Day. Retrieved from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: https://department.va.gov/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day/
