When is Veterans Day?
Veterans Day is a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states with the exception of Wisconsin.
The federal holiday is observed on November 11th or the weekday closest to November 11th, if November 11th falls on a weekend.
In most states, it is also observed on the weekday nearest to November 11th.
Local government, schools and businesses not required to follow closure policies made by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management are free to decide whether to observe Veterans Day as a holiday. Most will remain open.
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq remain open on this federal holiday.
Overall Veterans Day is a paid holiday for only 19% of American workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Just 11% of private-sector workers get the day off.
History of Veterans Day
The holiday honours all veterans of the United States armed forces.
A traditional observation is a moment of silence at 11 AM remembering those who fought for peace. (Commemorates the cease-fire in the 1918 armistice which was scheduled for "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.")
Did you know?
The last soldier killed in action in World War I is generally acknowledged to be an American called Henry Gunther from Baltimore. He was killed 60 seconds before the armistice came into force while charging German troops who knew that the Armistice was imminent. It was said that Gunther had been despondent over a recent reduction in rank and was trying to redeem his reputation.
The day of recognition for Veterans of the Great War (World War I) on this date was first proclaimed by President Wilson on November 11th 1919. In May 1938, the 11th of November in each year was declared a legal holiday and was known as 'Armistice Day'.
Did you know?
The war which claimed the most American lives was the Civil war, with over 618,000 deaths, compared to 416,000 in World War II.
In 1953, a shoe store owner named Al King started a campaign that the day should celebrate all veterans, not just those who served in World War 1, suggesting it should be renamed 'All' Veterans Day.
Al's idea was taken up by his local Chamber of Commerce and then by a local congressman, who helped push a bill for the holiday through Congress. President Eisenhower signed it into law and in May 1954, Congress amended the law and officially replaced 'Armistice' with 'Veterans'.
The Uniforms Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays – Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day.
It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act stipulated that Veterans Day should be observed on the fourth Monday of October. However, veterans' groups opposed the change and most states kept their Veterans Day commemorations on November 11th. On Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978.
How is Veterans Day observed?
An annual Veterans Day parade takes place on 5th Avenue in Manhattan with over 500,000 attendees.
Across the country, many restaurants and fast-food chains offer free meals to veterans.
Veterans Day, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs, isn't spelled with an apostrophe before or after the "s," because it's not a day that belongs to veterans. It's a day to honor them.
Veterans Day Quiz
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What is Open and Closed on Veterans Day?
Post Offices
Post offices across the U.S. will be closed for the holiday and mail delivery will be paused.
UPS and FedEx:
UPS stores remain open on Veterans Day, but shipping can take an extra day because of the federal holiday. Similarly, FedEx services remain operational, with the only disruption being a possible delay to "Fedex Ground Economy" packages.
Banks:
Most banks — including major banks such as Chase and Wells Fargo — are closed on Veterans Day, because they fall under the Federal Reserve, which is taking the day off as a government agency. Online banking services will still be in operation, with limited access to a live representative in many cases. ATMs should also remain accessible.
U.S. Stock Markets:
Unlike banks, the New York Stock Exchange doesn't close on Veterans Day. Wall Street will have a full day of trading, and operate as usual. Bond markets, which work with the federal government, will be closed.
National Parks: National parks across the country will not only be open on Veterans Day, admission will be free, according to the National Parks Service.
Government offices:
Most government offices, both local and federal, will be closed for Veterans Day, although certain essential services such as the police and fire departments will remain operational as usual.
Stores and Restaurants: Most places of business remain open on Veterans Day, although many may have reduced hours.
Public Schools:
Many, but not all, public schools across the country will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. Be sure to double check with your local school to see whether classes are in session.
What's the Deal with Wisconsin?
Wisconsin is the only state in the country that does not officially recognize Veterans Day as a legal holiday.
There are a few reasons for this:
Historically, Wisconsin has had a strong tradition of celebrating Armistice Day, which was the predecessor to Veterans Day. When the federal government renamed Armistice Day to Veterans’ Day to honor all veterans of all wars in the 1950s, Wisconsin did not follow suit. Instead, Wisconsin continued to celebrate Armistice Day as a state holiday.
In the 1980s, there were a few attempts to make Veterans Day a state holiday in Wisconsin. However, these efforts were unsuccessful. Some people in Wisconsin argued that Veterans Day was already being honored on Armistice Day and that there was no need for another holiday. This argument is on somewhat shaky ground, given that Armistice Day is no longer a state holiday in Wisconsin.
In recent years, there has been renewed interest in making Veterans’ Day a state holiday in Wisconsin. In 2022, the Wisconsin Senate passed a bill to make Veterans’ Day a state holiday, but the bill has not yet been passed by the Wisconsin Assembly.
