# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/21 "2021-11-08T17:02:45Z")
Surprised this hasn’t been pointed out yet. The holiday was originally Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I, when the armistice ending major combat in Europe went into effect, at 11 a.m. Paris time, on November 11th. In the U.S., Armistice Day was an informal folk holiday from (probably) 1921 until 1926, when it was formally recognized by Congress. Around about 1947, after World War II, some Americans began observing a more generalized “veteran’s day” commemorating the fallen in all of America’s wars (including, of course, the recently concluded World War II). In 1954, Congress officially renamed Armistice Day to Veteran’s Day as a Federal holiday. Unlike Armistice Day, which was observed in many of the combatant countries of WWI, Veteran’s Day is specifically an American holiday. How November 11th is designated and observed in other countries will vary. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/22 "2021-11-09T01:57:26Z")
I see that MeTV is airing the final MASH episode on Veteran’s Day; the teaser commercial says it’s rarely shown. An interesting choice. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/23 "2021-11-09T05:54:40Z")
I note that @Jasmine seems to insist that the correct spelling is _Veterans’ Day_ – ISTM that is the way it ought to be. (A day belonging to all the Veterans). ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/24 "2021-11-09T06:18:15Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Doh! > > Thank you, I got confused. I think the correct explanation is that you were temporarily transported back to the 1968-1978 Congressional Veterans Day time warp. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/25 "2021-11-09T06:22:25Z")
> [@gdave](#): > > How November 11th is designated and observed in other countries will vary. In Canada, it’s Remembrance Day, and always on November 11. It’s a stat holiday federally and in some provinces but not all. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/26 "2021-11-09T08:05:34Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > In Canada, it’s Remembrance Day, and always on November 11. It’s a stat holiday federally and in some provinces but not all. As one who has had relatives survive WWI (21st Bn. CEF), die in WWII (RCAF), and survive the Battle of the Atlantic (RCN), I am always glad and thankful to mark Remembrance Day here in Canada. I would urge everybody to visit the Peace Tower in Ottawa sometime. There, you will find the name of every Canadian serviceman who has lost his life in the service of Canada at war or while on peacekeeping missions for the UN. Their names, in elegant calligraphy, are displayed; so they will never be forgotten. And we make sure that we never forget them on Remembrance Day. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/27 "2021-11-09T18:02:37Z")
Just to add, the US already had Memorial Day (Decoration Day at the time), so the choice was to basically commemorate the Armistice by making it Veterans Day. FWIW, Veterans Day is for commemorating the service of _ **living** _ servicepeople. The dead are commemorated on Memorial Day. People get the two of them blended and confused all the time. ---
**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 9, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/28 "2021-11-09T18:09:27Z")
I’ve never been any place in the US where the moment of silence at 11am is observed and also I don’t think there’s the custom of wearing poppies. In short, Americans don’t seem to observe it as much as people in the UK. ---
**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 9, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/29 "2021-11-09T18:32:14Z")
Poppies happen here also, just not as often as in the UK. Mostly likely to be seen in towns with VFWs or American Legions. But other groups give out Poppies for donations for veterans groups. I have seen the observance, but not at work. My old township had a Veterans Day observance, with Boy Scouts and some WWII or Korean War Vets. Later with more recent Vets. Veterans Day was usually an off-day for our school system. Combined with another day for Teacher Training or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/30 "2021-11-09T20:07:54Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > In Canada, it’s Remembrance Day, and always on November 11. It’s always observed on November 11, but if it falls on a weekend (like in 2018) government offices and financial markets will be closed on the following Monday. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2021, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/31 "2021-11-09T20:10:05Z")
Sure, but it’s not a moveable feast designed to create three day weekends. It’s the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/32 "2021-11-10T16:51:45Z")
> [@bump](#): > > People get the two of them blended and confused all the time. Because they’re both in the wrong season. Veterans Day, supposedly for the living, is bare, cold, dark, and bleak. Memorial Day, supposedly for the dead, is bright and warm and green and a three-day weekend. ---
**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 10, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/33 "2021-11-10T16:59:55Z")
That’s an interesting view. I never thought of that aspect. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/34 "2021-11-10T17:02:11Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > Do you lot get a day off for Veterans/Remembrance Day? The ad agency where I now work is closed for Veterans Day; it’s the only one of the five companies where I’ve worked in my career which does close for it. (The fact that we are now owned by a French holding company may factor into that.) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2021, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/35 "2021-11-10T17:04:39Z")
Tomorrow is a federal holiday, and a provincial holiday in my province. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/36 "2021-11-11T16:59:02Z")
I try to make it out to a ceremony but during Covid have watched the Ottawa one on TV. I had a lot of relatives involved in the War Effort and the fight in WW2 really was for democracy and important principles which sometimes seem to half been half-forgotten. I always find the ceremony touching, but could live without someone saying a poem or traditional short speech in English, then having the following French one which is exactly the same immediately interrupted (so you can’t hear the French) to provide the same English translation you literally just heard. Some things are better without translation; if you gotta do it use subtitles. Also, ceremonies are better when everyone shows up on time. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/37 "2021-11-11T17:13:24Z")
The 21 gun salute on the shores of Lake Wascana, in front of the Legislature, has begun. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/38 "2021-11-11T17:30:37Z")
This summer, the City of Moose Jaw erected a plaque to [Pvt. George Price](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Lawrence_Price), of Nova Scotia and then Moose Jaw, the last known Commonwealth soldier to die in battle in the Great War. Serving with the Nor’West Battalion of the Saskatchewan Regiment, he was shot by a German sniper in Ville-sur-Haine, Belgium, at 10:58 am, November 11, 1918 and died a minute later. By coincidence, he is buried in the same Commonwealth cemetery as the first British soldier to die in WWI, [Pvt. John Parr](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iraq-and-comparisons-to-vietnam/211800). God rest their souls, and all those in-between. > **[Plaque Unveiled to Honour Moose Jaw's Pvt. George Price](https://www.discovermoosejaw.com/articles/plaque-unveiled-to-commemorate-pvt-george-price)** > > A plaque was unveiled in Crescent Park on Thursday, commemorating the final commonwealth casualty of the First World War. Pvt. George Lawrence Price was born and raised in Nova Scotia but moved out west to Moose Jaw where he enlisted 210th Infantry... ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/39 "2021-11-11T19:42:43Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > It’s always observed on November 11, but if it falls on a weekend (like in 2018) government offices and financial markets will be closed on the following Monday. The financial markets aren’t closed, the S&P 500 is up about 9 points now. My educated WAG is that the markets don’t close for Veterans Day (or Columbus Day) is that there are already so many holidays in the 4th quarter, the day after Thanksgiving is a half day along with Christmas Eve. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2021, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975/40 "2021-11-11T23:12:09Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The financial markets aren’t closed, the S&P 500 is up about 9 points now. It’s a settlement holiday in Canada. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-observance/953975.md?page=3)