Today we honor generations of America's veterans – patriots who have stood on the front lines of freedom and ensured that the light of freedom shines brightly around the world. Just as they have maintained absolute faith in our nation, we must maintain absolute faith in them.

Every single veteran of our nation is a link in a chain of honor that stretches back to our founding days – bound together by a sacred oath to support and defend the United States of America. Whenever and wherever the forces of darkness have tried to extinguish the flame of freedom throughout history, America's veterans have fought to keep it burning. I still remember the pride the First Lady and I felt in our son Beau during his service in Iraq. He – like all of our veterans from Belleau Wood, Bagdad and Gettysburg to Guadalcanal, Korea and Kandahar and beyond – lived, served and sacrificed by a creed of duty. We owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never fully repay, not only for fighting for our democracy, but for giving back to our communities and inspiring the next generation to serve, even after they wear their uniforms have hung a nail.

As a nation, we have a truly sacred obligation: to prepare and equip those we send into harm's way, and to care for them and their families when they return home. Since taking office, I have signed more than 34 bipartisan bills to support our veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors. This includes the groundbreaking Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which enacted the most significant expansion of benefits and services for veterans exposed to toxins in more than 30 years. Today, more than 1.1 million veterans and 11,000 survivors of deceased veterans are receiving new service-connected disability benefits, and over 5.8 million veterans have been screened for toxic exposure – a critical step in ensuring they have access to the care they need. And since March of last year, any exposed veteran who served during a conflict listed in the PACT Act can enroll in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care. My Administration will ensure that female veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system have equal access to benefits and health services. My administration has worked to reduce barriers and reach out to veterans to ensure they have access to the benefits they deserve. As a result, the VA is providing more benefits to more veterans than ever before. In 2024, the VA has processed more claims than ever before and is providing health care services at record levels. We have taken steps to eliminate barriers and inequities for all veterans, including people of color, LGBTQI+ people, and women. We have made progress in combating veteran homelessness and are working to end the silent scourge of suicide by addressing financial and legal risk factors, promoting safe firearm storage, and expanding access to mental health services. Last year, the VA housed nearly 48,000 veterans, expanded access to health care and legal assistance for homeless veterans, and helped more than 158,000 veterans and their families keep their homes. And we are committed to helping the approximately 200,000 military members who transition from the military each year find good-paying jobs, including by connecting them to registered training programs. My administration has also prioritized supporting veteran entrepreneurship. This year, service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses secured nearly $32 billion in federal contracts, nearly $4 billion more than last year.

While our veterans are the steel backbone of this nation, their families are the brave heart – they also serve and sacrifice so much for our country. Last year, I signed an executive order calling for the most comprehensive administrative action in our nation's history to support the economic security of spouses, caregivers, and survivors of military members and veterans. The Executive Order increases training and employment opportunities for military spouses in the workforce and encourages federal agencies to do more through flexible policies to retain military spouses and veterans. Additionally, through the First Lady's Joining Forces Initiative, my administration is working to better support military and veteran families in everything from easing the school transition for military children to expanding economic opportunities to improving the well-being of spouses and caregivers and military survivors.

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to visit Normandy with so many World War II veterans to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Their service and sacrifices helped free the world from tyranny. We learned back then what we still know today: democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it and fight for it. Today we honor all of our veterans who have preserved, defended and fought for our democracy. They prove that we are a nation that can always meet darkness with light, no matter the cost or how heavy the burden. May we all strive to be worthy of their sacrifices on our behalf and do our part to ensure that the light of freedom burns brightly for generations to come.

In respect and recognition of the contributions made to the cause of peace and freedom throughout the world by our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors, Congress has determined (5 USC 6103(a)) that November 11th of each year shall be designated as a public holiday to honor our nation's veterans.

THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, hereby proclaim November 11, 2024, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the bravery, courage and sacrifice of these patriots through appropriate ceremonies and private prayers and to observe two minutes of silence for our nation's veterans. I also call on federal, state and local officials to fly the flag of the United States of America and engage in patriotic activities in their communities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby laid down my hand on the sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four, and in the year of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.