Resources and Recommended Reads for Veterans Day

November 11, 2024, marks Veterans Day. San Mateo County Libraries can connect you with helpful resources for veterans and valuable information about the history of this important holiday. All San Mateo County Libraries and Customer Care will be closed on Sunday, November 10, and Monday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

History of Veterans Day

The holiday we know as Veterans Day began in 1919 as Armistice Day, in remembrance of the armistice between the Allied nations and Germany during World War I. It became a federal holiday in 1938. In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, the US Congress amended the act to strike the word "Armistice" and replace it with "Veterans" in response to lobbying from veterans' service organizations. American veterans of all wars are honored on November 11 each year.

Resources for Veterans

Find more information and resources for veterans and their families, as well as opportunities to learn history on Veterans Connect.

For more information, VetNow is a resource funded by the State of California which offers live help with VA benefits and resources, college skills tools and job-hunting help.

In San Mateo County, the Veterans Services Office has assisted veterans in accessing State and Federal benefits for themselves and their families since 1946. The VSO does not charge any fees for services, which are available to all veterans and their families. Learn more, opens a new window about the County’s Veterans Services Office.

The Peninsula Vet Center, opens a new window is another local resource for service members and veterans. The Vet Center is a small, non-medical counseling center offering one-on-one counseling and group sessions.

Read More About Veterans Day

We have plenty of materials for, by and about veterans and service members.

What Every Veteran Should Know

Veterans Benefits for You

Veterans Benefits Guide for Dummies

Shortest Way Home

A Life of Service

The Heart That Fed

End of Active Service

A Dangerous Country

Ira Hayes

Finding Waypoints

Soldiers Don't Go Mad

Invisible Wounds