# Veterans Day Observance **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2021, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975 "2021-11-08T13:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/1 "2021-11-08T13:05:14Z")
As we Americans all know, most of our single day observances are celebrated on a Monday; Columbus Day, Presidents’ Day, etc. In Illinois, Lincoln’s Birthday is celebrated on whatever day is actually his birthday. That’s understandable. However, Veterans’ Day is also celebrated on a specific day no matter what day of the week that is. I Googled why and was surprised to see this: > " **Congress signed the Uniform Holiday Bill in 1968** to ensure that a few federal holidays, like Veterans Day, would be celebrated on a Monday. This was to encourage more travel and family activities over the long weekend, so it may stimulate the economy." So, now to my question. Why is it that Illinois has chosen to celebrate it like Lincoln’s birthday instead of like Columbus Day or Presidents’ Day? There seems to be no logic to it. I couldn’t find an answer via Google. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/2 "2021-11-08T13:13:13Z")
Veterans Day is always November 11th as WWI ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Can you cite that Illinois is doing something different? Or are you asking why Illinois is observing Veterans Day on the normal day that every other state observes it? * * * One quick check shows Winnebago County observing it on Nov 11th as is normal. According to this list of Illinois State Holidays 2021, it is still 11 November. > **[Illinois State Holidays 2021 - PublicHolidays.com](https://publicholidays.com/us/illinois/2021-dates/)** > > This page contains a calendar of all 2021 state holidays for Illinois. These dates may be modified as official changes are announced, so please check back regularly for updates. * * * Also fixed title as it is just Veterans Day, no apostrophe ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/3 "2021-11-08T13:24:13Z")
So, are you saying that Google is incorrect when it says that Veterans’ Day" is included in the 1968 “Uniform Holiday Bill”, or are you saying that it is but states in general choose to ignore it and celebrate it on the 11th of November anyway? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/4 "2021-11-08T13:26:37Z")
As you failed to provide a link, I’m not sure what you quoted. But what you quoted appears to be incorrect. Veterans Day is observed November 11th. Not on a Monday around Veterans Day. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/5 "2021-11-08T13:32:02Z")
Nice job! I Googled: “Is Veterans’ Day part of the Uniform Holiday Bill?” and got this: > The Act was designed to increase the number of three-day weekends for federal employees, a favorite goal of the travel industry. **Veterans Day was removed from this** list of “always-on-Monday” holidays when it was moved back to its traditional date of November 11, by act of Congress in 1975, effective 1978. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/6 "2021-11-08T13:37:35Z")
Do you lot get a day off for Veterans/Remembrance Day? Lucky you, we just have to stand still in silence for two minutes, then go back to work (UK, and no, standing still in silence isn’t compulsory). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/7 "2021-11-08T13:40:21Z")
Getting Veterans Day off is rare these days. It use to be more common. It isn’t even a Post Office Holiday. Though it is still a Bank Holiday. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/8 "2021-11-08T13:42:07Z")
Wow, I find that surprising given the fact that the British went through way more in WWI than we did and, because of the incessant Nazi bombing, virtually everyone in the entire nation became, in effect, veterans. This Thursday, when I am relaxed at home sipping my coffee, I will silently take note of your plight. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/9 "2021-11-08T14:39:40Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Wow, I find that surprising given the fact that the British went through way more in WWI than we did and, because of the incessant Nazi bombing, I’ll be the first to point out that you are confusing WW1 and WW2. WW2 involved Nazis and bombing. WW1 involved trench warfare and the advent of mechanised warfare. In most respects WW1 was the more horrible for the combatants. WW2 shifted the misery to the civilians in a range of awful ways. November the 11th commemorates WW1, but then adsorbs the other wars. Here in Australia we celebrate ANZAC Day. It is also a holiday that is always celebrated on the defined date, and interestingly, if it falls on a weekend, there is usually no holiday that year at all. Whereas other holidays (such as new year’s day), if they fall on a weekend, the following Monday becomes a holiday. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/10 "2021-11-08T14:42:01Z")
To be fair, the **Germans** did bomb London pretty hard in WWI, nothing like the Blitz, but around 5000 civilians killed IRC. But yes, no Nazis and nothing like WWII. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/11 "2021-11-08T14:52:08Z")
> [@Francis\_Vaughan](#): > > I’ll be the first to point out that you are confusing WW1 and WW2. WW2 involved Nazis and bombing. WW1 involved trench warfare and the advent of mechanised warfare. Actually, no. I am fully aware that they were different wars, but I am also aware that “Veterans’ Day” is supposed to be an observance for ALL veterans, not just the veterans of WWI. If anyone believes that the veterans who died in WWI are somehow more important than the veterans who died in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, etc, please feel free to post those feelings now. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/12 "2021-11-08T15:20:04Z")
You read his post wrong. No one suggested veterans from one war were more important than another. You associated Nazis with WWI and usually people think of the Blitz in WWII when it comes to bombing over the bombing campaign by the Germans in WWI. (that by the way included using airships) * * * Also Veterans day is about all Vets, not just those that died. It is only living Vets that get a free coffee from some places on Thursday. No WWI Vets left now. Memorial Day is the day to remember those that died in war. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/13 "2021-11-08T15:27:11Z")
Those two minutes on Nov 11 are a time to reflect on all the people who died because the people in power decided that war was the best solution for whatever problem they had. It is not confined to any individual conflict or to any country or nationality. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/14 "2021-11-08T15:45:26Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > It isn’t even a Post Office Holiday. Actually, it IS. [USPS Holidays 2021: Is the Post Office Open? (aarp.org)](https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2021/usps-holidays.html) ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/15 "2021-11-08T15:50:08Z")
Weird, I have _USPS informed delivery_ and the Email seemed to indicate I was getting mail today. I’ll know this afternoon I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/16 "2021-11-08T15:55:41Z")
Today isn’t Veterans Day. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/17 "2021-11-08T15:55:53Z")
Veteran’s Day is Thursday November 11, not today. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/18 "2021-11-08T15:57:48Z")
Doh! Thank you, I got confused. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/19 "2021-11-08T16:01:20Z")
This started out as a simple, innocent question that I thought would have one simple answer. LOL I do appreciate all the information, though. If I’m observing something, I should at least have some in depth knowledge about it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/20 "2021-11-08T16:18:57Z")
Honestly, I doubt that many Americans have any idea what Veterans Day is all about so you’re probably ahead of most of the country. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975.md?page=2)