On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the ceasefire that ended hostilities in World War I went into effect. The U.S. declared a day of commemoration in 1919, Congress certified it as an annual federal holiday in 1938 as Armistice Day, and Congress changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954.
Ever since, the observance has given the entire nation a day to come together to honor all those who have served in the U.S. military, in wartime or not, and to consider the notion of healthy patriotism and the moral obligation we have to one another as citizens and residents of our country. Catholic teaching, as cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2239-2240), considers patriotism a duty grounded in gratitude, charity, and the common good, while also being ordered to larger principles of truth, justice, and God.
With that in mind, Veterans Day is a time to thank members of the military for their service to us all. It is also a time to remember that tens of thousands of veterans nationwide continue to struggle with homelessness, and to consider ways to help those in our local communities. According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, from January 2025, there are about 32,500 homeless veterans in the United States — a reality that extends to the five boroughs, where many veterans remain unsheltered and ineligible for federal aid.
Inspiration for how to help can be found close to home.
At St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, members of the school’s Franciscan Youth Movement club recently collected toiletries and donated them to the St. Albans V.A. Medical Center in Queens.
Efforts like these can make a big difference. So can personal donations to organizations such as Catholic Charities Brooklyn & Queens and the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, both of which have programs that help veterans in need and people experiencing homelessness.
Readers can also reach out to their elected officials in New York City and stress the importance of adequately funding the city’s Department of Veterans’ Services.
The question ahead of every Veterans Day remains: Are we, as a city, doing right by our veterans?
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the nation will simultaneously observe two minutes of silence to honor the service and sacrifice of military veterans. Locally, the moment of silence will occur at 2:11 p.m.
It is more than a formal tradition. It is a collective act of gratitude, remembrance, and respect for veterans, in peacetime and wartime alike, and a chance to reflect on all that so many have given to serve the United States.
Bishop Robert Brennan has previously expressed gratitude during his homily at a Memorial Day field Mass in 2023. “We remember many who have served honorably and are buried on these sacred grounds. We remember their service, their bravery, and their generosity.”
As Catholics, there is no better way to honor our country’s veterans than to pray for them — on Veterans Day and at Mass — in thanksgiving for the sacrifices they have made.