Veterans Day, which was previously known as Armistice Day, is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans that served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
The date coincides with Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, celebrated in European countries, and which mark the anniversary of the end of World War I with the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918.
In the U.S., Armistice Day, which was enacted in 1919, was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
Memorial Day, observed on May 30, honors those who died while in military service
Because it is a federal holiday, some U.S. workers and many students have Veterans Day off from work or school.
When Veterans Day falls on a Saturday then either Saturday or the preceding Friday may be designated as the holiday, whereas if it falls on a Sunday it is typically observed on the following Monday.
When it falls on the weekend, many private companies offer it as a floating holiday where employees can choose some other day.
Legally, two minutes of silence is recommended to be observed at 2:11 pm ET.
Non-essential federal government offices are closed, no mail is delivered, and all federal workers are paid for the holiday, while those who are required to work on the holiday sometimes receive holiday pay for that day in addition to their wages
‘Not a beer drinking day’
Many people treat Veterans Day the same way they treat Memorial Day — as a day of solemnity in remembrance of those who gave their lives for our nation.
I wish people understood what [Veterans Day] means. It’s not a memorial, go to the graveyard day. It’s not a beer drinking party day. It’s a day to commemorate why the veterans did what they did and do what they do.
Retired Chief Warrant Officer James S. Hanson
Others view the holiday similarly to Independence Day, with celebration of our nation’s freedom. According to retired Chief Warrant Officer James S. Hanson, an aviation safety officer, it’s neither.
“I wish people understood what [Veterans Day] means. It’s not a memorial, go to the graveyard day. It’s not a beer drinking party day. It’s a day to commemorate why the veterans did what they did and do what they do,” he said.