Veterans Day is observed annually in the United States on a fixed date: November 11. This date remains constant regardless of the day of the week on which it occurs. The federal holiday specifically honors all individuals who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The selection of November 11 is historically significant, as it marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. The cessation of hostilities on the Western Front took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Initially commemorated as Armistice Day, the holiday was officially renamed in 1954 to honor veterans of all U.S. wars. While the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved several federal holidays to designated Mondays, strong public sentiment and the historical importance of the date led to legislation in 1975 that returned the official observance of this particular holiday to November 11, effective 1978.
In practice, when November 11 falls on a non-workday such as a Saturday or Sunday, the federal government and many other organizations observe the holiday on an adjacent weekday. If the date falls on a Saturday, the public holiday is typically observed on the preceding Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, it is commonly observed on the following Monday. This ensures that federal employees receive a designated day off for the observance, while the official commemorative date remains November 11.
