You’re staring at your calendar, trying to figure out if you actually have to log into that 9:00 AM Zoom call or if you can sleep in. It’s a common scramble. Every November, the same question pops up: Veterans Day is it a federal holiday or just one of those "bank holidays" that doesn't actually give most people the day off?
Yes. It is.
Since 1938, Veterans Day has been a formal federal holiday in the United States. But "federal holiday" is a bit of a loaded term. It means the post office is closed and the guy at the Social Security office isn't answering his phone, but it doesn't mean your local coffee shop or corporate office is shutting its doors. It's complicated. Honestly, it’s one of the most misunderstood days on the American calendar because it often gets lumped in with Memorial Day, even though they serve completely different purposes.
The Short Answer: Veterans Day Is It a Federal Holiday Right Now?
If you work for the government, the answer is a resounding yes. According to the United States Code (5 U.S.C. § 6103), November 11 is one of the eleven permanent federal holidays. When the date falls on a Saturday, the government usually observes it on the preceding Friday. If it hits on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes the "observed" holiday.
This matters because it triggers a massive shutdown of the federal infrastructure. We’re talking about the U.S. Postal Service, federal courts, and the stock market—well, actually, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq usually stay open, but the bond market closes. It’s a weird split.
Why November 11? It’s not a random date picked by a committee to create a long weekend. It marks the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918. That was the moment the armistice began, effectively ending the fighting in World War I. For a long time, it was actually called Armistice Day. It was meant to celebrate peace. But after World War II and the Korean War, veterans’ groups realized that "Armistice Day" was a bit too specific to one war. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower—a man who definitely knew a thing or two about being a veteran—signed the legislation that officially changed the name to Veterans Day.
The Great Uniform Holiday Bill Disaster
There was a weird period in the 70s where things got messy. In 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. The idea was to give federal employees more three-day weekends. They moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October.
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People hated it.
The historical significance of November 11 was too strong. Veterans groups protested. State legislatures ignored the federal law and kept celebrating it in November anyway. It was total chaos for a few years. Finally, in 1975, President Gerald Ford admitted the experiment was a failure and signed a law moving Veterans Day back to November 11, starting in 1978. Since then, it has stayed put.
Who Actually Gets the Day Off?
This is where the "federal holiday" part gets tricky for the average person. Private employers aren't legally required to give you the day off just because it's a federal holiday. In the U.S., that's left up to individual company policy.
- Federal Employees: You’re off. Enjoy the break.
- State and Local Government: Most follow the federal lead, but it varies. Some states are more "holiday-heavy" than others.
- Banks: Most major banks like Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America close their physical branches. Your mobile app will still work, obviously.
- Public Schools: This is a toss-up. In many districts, schools stay open but use the day for assemblies or educational programs about veterans. In others, it’s a full day off.
- Retail and Restaurants: Almost never closed. In fact, many restaurants go the opposite direction and offer free meals to veterans.
Basically, if you work in a cubicle for a Fortune 500 company, you should probably check your employee handbook. Only about 20% to 30% of private-sector businesses close for Veterans Day.
The Real Difference Between Veterans Day and Memorial Day
People mix these up constantly. It’s kinda disrespectful if you think about it, even if it's accidental.
Memorial Day is for those who died in service. It's a somber day of mourning. Veterans Day is for everyone who served—living or dead. It’s meant to be a celebration of service and a "thank you" to the people walking among us who wore the uniform.
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I remember talking to a Marine veteran who said he felt awkward when people thanked him on Memorial Day. "Save it for November," he’d say. "Today is for my buddies who didn't come back." That nuance is important. If you’re wondering Veterans Day is it a federal holiday because you want to know how to honor someone, the best way is to find a living veteran and just acknowledge their time in service.
What Stays Open and What Shuts Down?
Let’s get granular. If you’re planning errands, here is the reality of a federal holiday Tuesday or Wednesday in November:
The Mail: The USPS is closed. No residential or business mail delivery. However, private carriers like UPS and FedEx usually keep running, though they might have modified service for certain specialized delivery types.
Public Transit:
Most cities run on a "Sunday schedule" or a slightly reduced holiday schedule. If you’re in NYC or DC, expect longer waits for the subway.
National Parks:
Here’s a cool bit of info: Most National Parks offer free admission on Veterans Day. It’s one of the few days a year you can get into places like Yosemite or the Grand Canyon without paying the entrance fee.
Trash Pickup:
Check your local municipality. Most cities push trash collection back by one day if the holiday falls during the work week.
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A Global Perspective: It’s Not Just an American Thing
While we call it Veterans Day, the rest of the world has their own version. In the UK, Canada, and Australia, it’s Remembrance Day. They often wear red poppies. The sentiment is the same—remembering the end of World War I—but the "federal holiday" status differs. In Canada, it’s a statutory holiday for federal employees and in many provinces, but not all.
In France and Belgium, it is also a national holiday. It’s interesting how one moment in 1918 created a ripple effect that still dictates our work schedules over a century later.
Why Some Companies Stay Open
You might wonder why a company wouldn't want to give a holiday off. It usually comes down to "Floating Holidays."
Many modern HR departments have moved away from observing every single federal holiday in favor of giving employees a bank of hours to use whenever they want. This allows people of different faiths or backgrounds to take off the days that matter most to them. While Veterans Day is a federal holiday, it often gets swapped out in the corporate world for the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) or an extra day at Christmas.
How to Actually Observe the Day
If you do have the day off, or even if you don't, there are better ways to spend it than just sleeping in.
- Visit a VA Hospital: Many facilities have events or need volunteers. Just check their current visitor policy first.
- Support Veteran-Owned Businesses: A quick search in your area will probably reveal a coffee shop, gym, or brewery owned by someone who served.
- The National Two Minutes of Silence: Since 2016, there’s been a federal law (The Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act) encouraging Americans to stop for two minutes at 2:11 PM EST. It’s a small gesture, but it’s powerful if you actually do it.
- Correct the Record: When you hear someone ask "Veterans Day is it a federal holiday?" or confuse it with Memorial Day, gently explain the difference. Knowledge is a form of respect.
Essential Actionable Steps for November 11
Instead of just wondering if you have the day off, take these concrete steps to prepare for the holiday:
- Check the USPS Calendar: If you have a bill to mail or a package you’re expecting, account for the 24-hour blackout. Don't wait until November 10 to send something time-sensitive.
- Verify Retail Discounts: If you are a veteran, download an app like ID.me or carry your veteran ID card. Hundreds of retailers offer 10% to 50% discounts on this day, but many require digital verification beforehand.
- Audit Your Payroll: If you're a business owner, confirm whether your state requires "holiday pay" (time and a half) for employees working on federal holidays. Most states don't, but a few have specific statutes.
- Update Your Google Business Profile: If you run a small business, manually update your hours for November 11. Even if you stay open, Google might mark your business with a "Hours may differ" warning, which scares away customers. Confirming your hours prevents this.
The bottom line is that Veterans Day is a federal holiday with deep historical roots. It serves as a necessary pause in our busy lives to recognize a specific group of people who shaped the country’s history. Whether you’re getting a day off or just a break from getting mail, it’s a date that carries a lot more weight than just a gap in the work week.