Veterans Day: A Note From a Veteran Who Runs a Small Business

Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11. I'm writing this one in the first person, because this site is run by one person, and that person is a veteran.

I served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2011 as an 88M, a motor transport operator, and I left with an honorable discharge. Alectronic Solutions is the business I built afterward. It's a certified California Small Business (Micro) and a certified Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE), and you can see the details on the government page.

I don't want to turn a day for veterans into a sales page, so this post is short. I'd rather say a few useful things and leave it there.

Where the Day Comes From

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day, marking the end of fighting in World War I in 1918. Congress changed the name in 1954, and the day became one to honor American veterans of all wars, according to an archived copy of the VA's history page. Sources differ on a few of the earlier dates, but the 1954 change is consistent everywhere I looked.

That "of all wars" part is worth remembering. The day isn't only for people who deployed, or for people who were in combat. It's for everyone who raised their hand and served.

Three Simple Ways to Mean It

You don't need a big gesture. These all work:

1. Say thank you and then ask a real question. "What did you do in the service?" gets a better conversation than a quick "thanks for your service," and most veterans are glad to be asked.
2. Spend money with a veteran-owned business. If you need a plumber, a printer, an accountant, or a website, check whether a veteran-owned option exists near you. I wrote a guide on how to find veteran-owned businesses, and one on why it can make sense to hire one.
3. Support the organizations that do the work year round. Local veterans' groups and your county veterans services office help with benefits claims, housing, and jobs. A donation or a few volunteer hours goes a long way.

One Piece of News Worth Knowing

This week is National Veterans Small Business Week, and the SBA announced a change that matters to veteran business owners: its FY2027 contracting goal for veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses goes from 5% to 10%. I covered it in a separate post, including what the goal does and doesn't mean.

Thank You

If you're a veteran, thank you. If you're a customer, a neighbor, or someone who stopped by to read this, thank you for the work you do, too. Small businesses run on people who show up, and I'm glad to be one of them.

Quick Answers

When is Veterans Day in 2026? Wednesday, November 11.

Why is it on November 11? The date marks the 1918 armistice that ended fighting in World War I. The day was called Armistice Day until Congress renamed it Veterans Day in 1954 to honor veterans of all wars.

How can I support a veteran-owned business? Check whether one near you offers what you already need, confirm the claim, and hire them. The find guide shows where to look.

If you ever need a hand with a website, send me a message.