Veterans Day in Palo Alto

Palo Alto's Veterans Day has a short modern history and a long local one. The modern part is a joint ceremony that the City of Palo Alto and Stanford University have held together since 2022, with speeches, music and a quilt presented to a local veteran. The older part runs back to November 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the Armistice, when Palo Alto dedicated a former World War I army building as its community center. That building still stands at the foot of University Avenue.

This guide explains the holiday, what the recent ceremonies looked like and how to plan for Veterans Day 2026, which falls on Wednesday, November 11. We describe only details the organizers published. For the rest of the month, see our November guide.

Why November 11

The fighting in World War I stopped at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, when the Armistice took effect. The following year the United States began marking the date as Armistice Day. It became a federal holiday in 1938. In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, Congress renamed it Veterans Day to honor all American veterans.

Unlike Memorial Day, which honors those who died in service, Veterans Day thanks everyone who has served. That is why local events often center on living veterans, with recognitions and personal stories rather than graveside services.

Palo Alto's World War I roots

Palo Alto's link to the date is unusually direct. During World War I the Army built Camp Fremont just across San Francisquito Creek in Menlo Park, where tens of thousands of soldiers trained. Our page on Camp Fremont tells that story.

The camp's YWCA Hostess House, designed by architect Julia Morgan, was a place where soldiers met visiting families. After the war Palo Alto moved the building to 27 University Avenue in May 1919 and dedicated it on November 11, 1919, the first Armistice Day. It became the city's first community center. Today it houses the MacArthur Park restaurant and is a California Historical Landmark. Our Hostess House history covers the building in detail.

The camp hospital site on Willow Road in Menlo Park later became a Veterans Administration hospital and is still a VA campus. The larger VA Palo Alto Health Care System campus is on Miranda Avenue in Palo Alto.

The joint city and Stanford ceremony

The City of Palo Alto and Stanford hold a combined Veterans Day recognition event. The 2024 event was billed as the third, which dates the joint format to 2022. Partners have included Stanford's Office for Military-Affiliated Communities, American Legion Palo Alto Post 375, the South Bay Blue Star Moms and, in 2024, the Military Officers Association of America.

The 2025 program also included remarks from Mayor Ed Lauing, who spoke about his father's service in World War II. The commander of Post 375 and the president of the South Bay Blue Star Moms also spoke. Stanford's vice provost told the audience that the university had 36 undergraduate student veterans and more than 100 graduate student veterans.

Both recent events were free and open to the community, with veterans especially welcome. The city's 2025 event listing shows the format.

Veterans Day 2026

Veterans Day 2026 is on Wednesday, November 11. When we checked in late October 2026, the city had not posted details for a 2026 joint ceremony. The city posted its 2025 listing ahead of the holiday, so look for an update in the first days of November.

• Where to check: the City of Palo Alto events directory, Stanford's events calendar and the Post 375 website.
• Likely format: a late afternoon program of about an hour followed by a reception, based on 2024 and 2025. The venue has moved between downtown Palo Alto and the Stanford campus.
• Accessibility: past listings offered a way to request disability accommodations in advance.

Getting there and parking

If the event is on campus, plan for Stanford parking rules. For the 2025 ceremony the city said campus parking was free after 4 p.m. unless spaces were posted otherwise, with the nearest spots along Roth Way and Lasuen Street near Frost Amphitheater and Bing Concert Hall. Our guide to Stanford parking and transit explains the permit zones.

If the event is downtown, MacArthur Park sits beside the Palo Alto Caltrain station at the foot of University Avenue, so the train is the easiest way in. Downtown garages are a short walk away.

Attending with a veteran

Many people come to the ceremony with a parent or grandparent who served. A few practical points help the day go smoothly:

1. Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early. Seating can be limited at smaller venues, so allow time to find a seat with easy access.
2. Ask about accommodations ahead. Past listings included a form for disability accommodation requests. Use it if you need seating, mobility help or hearing support.
3. Bring service details. Veterans are often invited to stand and be recognized. Some like to wear a cap or pin from their branch or unit.
4. Plan for a cool evening. November afternoons are mild but it gets dark early once daylight saving time ends. Late programs can be chilly.

Other ways to mark the day

• VA Palo Alto. The VA Palo Alto Health Care System has hosted Veterans Day programs at its Miranda Avenue campus, including one jointly hosted with the city in the Ed Stallings Auditorium. Check the VA's events page for current plans.
• Visit the Hostess House. A dinner at MacArthur Park is a quiet way to sit inside the building Palo Alto dedicated on the first Armistice Day.
• Volunteer. Veterans groups and the VA welcome volunteers through the year. Our volunteering guide has starting points.
• Explore the archives. The Hoover Institution Library and Archives holds major collections on war and peace. Its exhibits are open to visitors on weekdays.

Frequently asked questions