Veterans Day Approaches: How To Celebrate In Washington

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD — The post office and most banks will be closed Thursday in observance of Veterans Day, a federal holiday that honors veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

Joint Base Lewis-McChord will shut down all of its MWR families — some for several days — in honor of the occasion. Meanwhile, a number of Veterans Day events are planned across Puget Sound, like Auburn's long-running Veterans Parade, Veterans Day celebrations at Seattle's Museum of Flight, and many more.

Veterans Day, commemorated annually on Nov. 11, was first celebrated in 1919 to honor those who fought in World War I. It was initially called Armistice Day and was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

The holiday’s origin is tied to the armistice, a temporary end of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany signed in France on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

It became Veterans Day in 1954, shortly following the end of the Korean War and less than a decade after World War II, after various veterans service organizations urged Congress to encompass veterans of all wars in their honor.

While some ceremonies, parades and services may be canceled or altered as the coronavirus pandemic continues, restaurants and other businesses will continue to show their appreciation for veterans and active-military members.

Applebee’s, Bob Evans and Chili’s Grill and Bar are among the national restaurant chains offering free or discounted meals for veterans on Nov. 11, and 7-Eleven is offering a free cup of coffee or Big Gulp.

Starbucks, as is their tradition, is going all out. On Wednesday, Starbucks and the Seattle Seahawks, Operation Gratitude, Task Force 12 and Delta Air Lines will come together at Lumen Filed for "Operation Turkey Drop" which creates care packages for veterans and their families. On Veterans Day itself, Starbucks stores will offer free tall coffees to veterans, military service members and military spouses. And finally, Starbucks will also donate 25 cents from each cup of coffee sold nationwide to military nonprofits.

Veterans Day is related to, and sometimes mistaken for, Memorial Day, the federal holiday on the final Monday of May that is dedicated to those who have died while serving the United States.