Veterans Day Honors All American Veterans

Veterans Day is always observed on November 11. Have you ever wondered why November 11 is the date to honor veterans? There is a very good reason for that particular date.

It was decided that Veterans Day would be celebrated on the 11th hour, the 11th day in the 11th month. It was the day and time the Armistice Treaty was signed that ended World War I. Businesses and schools were not closed that entire day. However, there was a brief pause at exactly 11 a.m. on November 11.

The United States set aside that particular date every year to honor all American veterans for the patriotism, service, and sacrifices they made for their country.

As a symbol of honoring those who have protected this country, all flags are flown at full staff. Every year, a Veterans Day National Ceremony is held at Arlington National Cemetery.

Origin of Veterans Day

November 11 has not always been called Veterans Day. It was first called Armistice Day when Congress voted the date as a legal holiday twenty years after the war ended in 1918.

The holiday was first designed to honor only veterans of World War I in 1938. In 1954, the name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars. Today, all American men and women who served in the military are honored.

What Is Closed on Veterans Day?

Some places are closed, and some places also remain open on November 11.

State and local governments are not required to close, but some of them do. Non-government businesses usually make their own decisions whether they will close or remain open.

There is no legal requirement for schools to close on Veterans Day. Therefore, some states and school districts control their own school closings. Check your children's school calendar to confirm if their school is closed or open on Veterans Day.

The following places are known to be either closed or to remain open on Veterans Day:

• Federal and government employees will get the day off because their workplaces will be closed.
• Post Offices across the United States will be closed, and no mail will be delivered.
• All federal and state courts will be closed.
• UPS and FedEx will continue to operate on Veterans Day.
• Banks under the Federal Reserve will be closed. Online banking services and ATMs will remain accessible.
• U.S. Stock Markets will operate as usual.
• Most public schools will be closed, but not all of them.
• Businesses and grocery stores will remain open.
• Department stores will remain open. Some will have sales.
• Restaurants are open. Many may offer free meals or discounts for veterans.

How Is Veterans Day Different from Memorial Day?

Some people still confuse Veterans Day and Memorial Day, mainly because both days honor servicemen and women. However, there is a simple way to remember the differences between the two holidays.

Veterans Day always comes on November 11 no matter what day of the week it falls on. It honors all living American servicemen and women past and present who served or are serving in the military. Even though it is an official and legal holiday, it is not as popular in some communities as Memorial Day.

Memorial Day does not come on the same date every year. Instead, it is celebrated on the last Monday in May, no matter what date it falls on. It is the legal holiday to remember military men and women who died while in the service to their country. Even though people visit cemeteries and put flowers on the graves of loved ones, the day was actually set aside to memorialize the death of military personnel and not for all lay people who have died.

Also, people remember Memorial Day because it is the unofficial start of summer. If Memorial Day falls on a weekday, all federal and government offices are closed as well as the post offices, banks, and schools.

Which is correct?

1. Veterans Day
2. Veteran's Day
3. Veterans' Day

Even though you might see it written all three ways in newspapers and magazines, choice 1 is the correct one that should be used. The name of the day does not include an apostrophe. It does end in an "s" to make the word plural to include all veterans and not just one.