Where is the United States’ principal national Veterans Day ceremony held each year?

The United States’ principal national Veterans Day ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery.

The ceremony takes place near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, one of the cemetery’s most recognizable memorials. It typically includes military honors, speeches, wreath-laying, and participation by senior government officials and veterans’ organizations.

Arlington National Cemetery was established during the American Civil War on the grounds of the former Arlington estate across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It has since become a national site of remembrance for American service members and veterans.

This ceremony should not be confused with local Veterans Day events, which take place throughout the country. The Arlington observance is the nationally prominent ceremony, while communities, schools, and veterans’ groups conduct their own programs.