Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11. If you live on the Peninsula, you probably already know a veteran: a neighbor, a coworker, a parent, a grandfather who never talks about it. This is a guide to using the day for what it is actually meant for, which is thanking the people who served while they are here to be thanked. We have already written about the other military holiday, in our guide to Memorial Day and Golden Gate National Cemetery. Veterans Day is a different occasion, and it deserves its own plan.
🇺🇸 Three Holidays, Three Different Groups of People
People mix up the military holidays all the time, and it is worth getting them straight before you choose a card:
- Memorial Day (late May) honors those who died in military service.
- Veterans Day (November 11) honors all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, living and deceased.
- Armed Forces Day (May) honors those currently serving.
The practical lesson is that “Happy Memorial Day” to a living veteran misses the mark, while “Thank you” on Veterans Day is exactly right.
📅 Why November 11
The date comes from the end of World War I. Fighting stopped under an armistice that took effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, and the first Armistice Day was observed in 1919. In 1954 it was renamed Veterans Day, to honor the veterans of World War II and Korea as well. For a short time the observance was moved to a Monday to create long weekends, but by 1978 it was restored to November 11, the date that carried the history. This year there is one more note: the Department of Veterans Affairs chose a 2026 poster that recognizes America’s 250th anniversary, joining a modern flag and an early American flag to connect the nation’s founding with generations of veterans.
🏛️ Two Cemeteries Everyone Mixes Up
There is a Peninsula-specific tangle worth clearing up. Golden Gate National Cemetery is in San Bruno, about 12 miles south of San Francisco. San Francisco National Cemetery is a different place, in the Presidio, in view of the Golden Gate. Even the cemeteries’ own histories note that the names are frequently confused. The reason the newer one is in San Bruno is a piece of local history: around 1937, San Francisco residents voted to stop opening new cemeteries within the city, so the site for the new national cemetery was chosen just south of the city limits, in San Mateo County. Congress authorized it in 1937, the first burials were in 1941, and it was dedicated on Memorial Day, 1942. It covers about 161 acres and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016.
If you are planning to visit a grave or send something to a ceremony, confirm which cemetery you mean. Rules about flowers vary by cemetery and by season, and we cover the specifics in our Golden Gate National Cemetery guide. Please check current rules with the cemetery before you bring anything.
🏥 The Peninsula’s VA
For veterans on the Peninsula, the VA Palo Alto Health Care System is a major provider of VA care in the region. It includes inpatient hospitals in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and Livermore, plus outpatient clinics around the region. If a veteran you know is a patient, call the facility before you order. Hospitals restrict flowers in some units, and the staff can tell you what is allowed and how to address the delivery. Our guide to get-well flowers for Peninsula hospitals has the details, and if flowers are not allowed, a card, a plant for later or a delivery to the patient’s home after discharge are good alternatives.
🌹 Who to Remember
Veterans Day is easy to overlook, so here are the people we most often hear about:
- A veteran in your family. A parent, grandparent or sibling. A bouquet with a card that names something specific is far more meaningful than a general thank-you.
- A neighbor or coworker. Many people who served never mention it. A small arrangement and a short note says you noticed. Our guide to thank-you flowers can help with wording.
- A veteran in a care home or retirement community. Older veterans, particularly, appreciate being remembered. See our retirement flowers guide, and call the community first about delivery.
- A military spouse or family. Service is a family experience, and spouses and children carry part of it.
- A friend who lost someone. Veterans Day can be heavy for families who have lost a veteran. If that is someone you know, see our guide to sympathy flowers.
✍️ What to Write on the Card
The best Veterans Day cards are specific and sincere, not slogans. A few ideas:
- “Thank you for serving. I think of what you did every time I [something real]. — [Name]”
- “I know you do not talk about it much. I wanted you to know I am grateful.”
- “Dad, I am proud of you, and I am glad we have you.”
- For a coworker: “Thank you for your service and for all you do for this team.”
Keep it about them. Some veterans prefer low-key recognition, so a quiet gesture often lands better than a public one. If you are unsure, ask a family member, or choose a simple arrangement and a short note.
🌷 Flowers and Colors
Red, white and blue is the obvious palette, and it works. But the right flower is the one the person would actually enjoy, so think about their taste first. The red poppy has been a symbol of remembrance since World War I, and a few red poppy-style stems or red flowers with a small flag pick are a lovely nod. For something seasonal, our guide to early fall bouquets on the Peninsula covers what is fresh this time of year. If you fly a flag, Veterans Day is one of the national holidays when it should be displayed.
⏰ Timing: November 11 Is a Wednesday
Veterans Day is a federal holiday, so many government offices, banks and schools are closed, and some businesses are too. If you are sending flowers to a workplace, check that it will be open, and consider sending to the person’s home instead. For a Wednesday occasion, our advice is to order for Tuesday, November 10, or earlier. Cities and veterans groups often hold ceremonies on the day, so check city calendars and the San Mateo County veterans services office closer to the date for this year’s details. We are happy to help you time a delivery around an event.
📍 Delivering Across the Peninsula
We deliver across the Peninsula, from Belmont and Redwood City to San Mateo, Menlo Park and Palo Alto. You can browse our thank-you flowers or gifts for any occasion.
❓ Quick Answers
- When is Veterans Day? Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
- Who does it honor? All U.S. veterans, living and deceased. Memorial Day honors those who died in service.
- Which national cemetery is in San Bruno? Golden Gate National Cemetery. The one in the Presidio is San Francisco National Cemetery.
- Can I send flowers to a veteran in a VA hospital? Call the facility first; rules vary by unit.
- When should I order? For Tuesday, November 10, or earlier, since many workplaces are closed on the holiday.
- What should I write? Something specific and sincere, kept about them.