Veterans Day: Closures and Open Services Guide

Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11, honors the service of all U.S. military veterans, past and present, commemorating the armistice that ended World War I more than a century ago. The holiday falls on a Tuesday this year, prompting closures across federal agencies and variations in local services nationwide.

The observance traces its roots to 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, when Allied nations and Germany agreed to cease fighting in World War I. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in 1919 to mark the occasion. Congress established November 11 as a federal holiday in 1938, initially to recognize World War I veterans. In 1954, lawmakers amended the name to Veterans Day, expanding its scope to include those from all conflicts. A brief shift to October in the 1970s under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act led to confusion, prompting President Gerald Ford to restore the original date in 1975, effective from 1978.

Communities across the country hold events to pay tribute, including parades and ceremonies. New York City's annual procession along Fifth Avenue remains the largest, drawing thousands to honor veterans. In California, San Jose's parade starts...