20 Veterans Day Quotes

Veterans Day quotes provide a powerful way to honor the courage, sacrifice, and dedication of those who have served. These meaningful words from historical figures and modern-day leaders help people connect more deeply with the spirit of Veterans Day, which is observed in the US on November 11 each year.

Whether you’re seeking Veterans Day quotes for a social media post, Veterans Day message, classroom display, or personalized gift, the examples below provide timeless insight into the strength and service of US veterans.

Short Veterans Day quotes

Short Veterans Day quotes like these are perfect for an Instagram caption, a Veterans Day email signoff, or a concise message to friends and family.

• “They were mortal, but they were unconquerable.” —Willa Cather in her novel One of Ours, inspired by the death of her cousin in WWI
• “Veterans have proudly carried the torch of liberty for all to see.” —General Colin Powell, former U.S. Army Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Arlington National Cemetery on November 11, 1989
• “Only our individual faith in freedom can keep us free.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th US President, in the Veterans Day Proclamation in 1954
• “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” —Winston Churchill, British prime minister during WWII
• “Though it is little that one woman can do, still I crave the privilege of doing it.” —Clara Barton, founder of the Red Cross and Civil War hospital nurse
• “Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause.” —Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President

Thank you Veterans Day quotes

These “thank you veterans” quotes can provide inspiration when you want to express heartfelt gratitude on Veterans Day.

• “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” —John F. Kennedy, 35th US President, during the Thanksgiving Day Proclamation of 1963
• “My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place: police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces.” —Sidney Sheldon, US novelist and playwright
• “What veterans have given our country is beyond our power to fully repay, yet today, we recognize our debt to their honor.” —George W. Bush, 43rd US president
• “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.” —Woodrow Wilson, 28th US president, on the first Veterans Day (then called Armistice Day) on November 11, 1919
• “My life’s greatest honor is being in the company of heroes all these years. You’ve shown me what true men and women look like, and you’ve shown me what it means to put something above myself. To love your country is to volunteer to protect it.” —Zach Bryan, Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter who served in the US Navy
• “They fought together as brothers-in-arms. They died together, and now they sleep side by side. To them we have a solemn obligation.” —Chester W. Nimitz, prominent US Navy commander during WWII
• “We honor those Twentieth Century Americans who took up the struggle during the Second World War and made the sacrifices to perpetuate the gift our forefathers entrusted to us: A nation conceived in liberty and justice.” —inscription on the WWII Memorial Announcement Stone
• “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.” Harry S. Truman, 33rd US president, during a broadcast to the Armed Forces on April 17, 1945

Inspirational Veterans Day quotes

These quotes are powerful reminders of the courage and commitment shown by those who have served.

• “In the military, you learn the essence of people. You see so many examples of self-sacrifice and moral courage.” —Adam Driver, actor and US Marine from 2001–2004
• “From the very first day that I put my uniform on, right up until this morning, I know there is nothing I would have rather done with my life.” —Ann E. Dunwoody, retired US Army general and the first woman to receive a four-star officer rank
• “We know why these men fought to keep our freedom and why the wars that save a people’s liberties are wars worth fighting and worth winning and at any cost.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd US president, in a radio address on D-Day, June 6, 1944
• “Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you, but is not defined by your existence alone.” —John McCain, former US senator and naval officer, who was also a prisoner of war (POW) in Vietnam
• “Americans came to liberate, not to conquer, to restore freedom, and to end tyranny.” —inscription on a flagpole at the WWII Memorial
• “Never before have men crossed the seas to a foreign land to fight for a cause which they did not pretend was particularly their own, but knew was the cause of humanity and of mankind.” —Woodrow Wilson, 28th US president, in a Memorial Day speech shortly after WWI ended

Frequently asked questions about Veterans Day quotations

Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?

Veterans Day is a federal holiday on November 11 in the US. Government offices are closed and federal employees and military members get the day off. Banks in the US are also usually closed on Veterans Day.

When Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, federal offices in the US are closed on Friday. When it’s on a Sunday, they’re closed on the following Monday.

On this holiday, people also write messages to thank friends and family for their service. When you’re working on a Veterans Day message, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can make it error free.

Is it Veterans Day or Veteran’s Day?

It is “Veterans Day” (without an apostrophe) because “veteran” is a plural noun in this context. The apostrophe is incorrect because “veteran” is not a possessive noun. The holiday honors all of the veterans (plural). Only use “veteran’s” when you mean “belonging to one veteran”:

• The veteran’s supervisor took her out to lunch on Veterans Day.

Have you tried QuillBot’s Grammar Checker for help with using plurals and possessives? They’re easy to confuse, but this free tool will help you get them right when you’re writing a Veterans Day message.

What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

Memorial Day is a day set aside to mourn and remember those who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May each year.

Veterans Day is dedicated to honoring anyone who has served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is observed on November 11 every year, which coincides with the anniversary of the end of World War I (also known as Armistice Day).