It’s November 11, 2015 and Veterans Day is here. In honor of those who served in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, we’re sharing some interesting and little known facts about this important federal holiday.
History
Not to be confused for Memorial Day, Veterans Day is a federal holiday that occurs every November 11th. The historical origins of Veterans Day dates back to 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson commemorated November 11 as Armistice Day to recognize the end of World War I (at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). Other countries still recognize November 11th as Remembrance Day (Australia, Canada, India) or Armistice Day (Belgium, France).
Discounts & Free Services
As a veteran, you can get discounts and even free services on Veterans Day. Here are a few things you can take advantage of on this day:
- Many restaurants and other businesses offer free meals to veterans on November 11th.
- Many recreation facilities give discounts as well, including museums, zoos, and all national parks.
- Free haircut at Great Clips
- Free coffee at Starbucks
- Free year’s subscription to LinkedIn (although you can get that any day of the year)
Starting a Business
The 2012 U.S. Census found that an estimated 2.5 million of the 27.6 million non-farm businesses (9%) nationwide are owned by veterans. These businesses employ more than 115 million people and pay more than $5 trillion in annual compensation.
According to Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, many veterans have become small business owners, and about one in seven veterans is self-employed or a small-business owner. The report highlights that “prior military service is one of the strongest predictors of who is most likely to start a business in the U.S.”
If you’re a veteran and thinking about starting a business, Rocket Lawyer can help. We’re proud to assist veterans with their small business goals by helping them incorporate and create business documents.
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