# Veterans Day on Saturday????? Why not Monday? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 8, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079 "2017-11-08T23:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2017, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/1 "2017-11-08T23:59:55Z")
I was at the bank and they had a sign posted, closed Sat for Veterans Day. I thought all the Federal holidays were moved to Mondays? Except: Thanksgiving, Christmas and July 4th. Has Veterans Day been dropped as a Federal Holiday? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/2 "2017-11-09T00:11:53Z")
People are getting Friday off as a holiday, but the day of observance is November 11th. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/3 "2017-11-09T00:11:59Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I thought all the Federal holidays were moved to Mondays? Except: Thanksgiving, Christmas and July 4th. > > Has Veterans Day been dropped as a Federal Holiday? No, but like Christmas and the Fourth of July it is [officially celebrated on a specific date](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/11/07/when-veterans-day-and-why-marked-same-day-each-year/839306001/). > [@](#): > > Has Veterans Day always been on Nov. 11? No. From 1971 until 1977, following an amendment to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was moved to the fourth Monday of October. There was, however, an outcry against the move and in 1975, President Ford signed a bill that returned the observance to November 11, beginning in 1978. But: > [@](#): > > Who decides if a government office or business closes or stays open on Veterans Day? Except for some with critical functions, federal offices are generally closed on Veterans Day. However, when a holiday falls on a non-workday — Saturday or Sunday — offices are closed on the adjacent workday — Monday if the holiday falls on Sunday or Friday if the holiday falls on Saturday. According to the VA, state and local governments, including schools, may determine for themselves whether to close or remain open. Likewise,\*\* non-government businesses are free to make their own decisions to close or remain open for business.\*\* Since the bank presumably would have been open on Saturday, it decided to close on the day itself and stay open on Friday. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/4 "2017-11-09T00:14:24Z")
When Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, either that day, or the day before (Friday) can be observed. > **[Veterans Day | Observance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day#Observance)** > > Because it is a federal holiday, some American workers and many students have Veterans Day off from work or school. When Veterans Day falls on a Saturday then either Saturday or the preceding Friday may be designated as the holiday, whereas if it falls on a Sunday it is typically observed on the following Monday. When it falls on the weekend many private companies offer it as a floating holiday where employees can choose some other day.\[citation needed\] A Society for Human Resource Management pol... ETA: This site is lousy with ninjas. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/5 "2017-11-09T00:40:57Z")
I enjoy looking at all of the ads for Veterans’ Day sales, not one of which offers a discount for actual vets. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/6 "2017-11-09T00:43:14Z")
I had no idea Veterans Day was that complicated. 😉 Thank you for the explanation and links. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/7 "2017-11-09T00:47:32Z")
when I was in the 4th grade in Indiana we went to school when veterans day was on or observed on a Friday because we had an hour long observance assembly it was argued that we were served better my having a normal school day than a day off ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/8 "2017-11-09T01:05:56Z")
At the bank where I work, it’s a floating holiday, meaning you get to choose when you take it, subject to manager approval. I will be observing the holiday on Friday, Nov. 17. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/9 "2017-11-09T01:55:55Z")
I lost a temp job because I got caught in traffic for a noontime Veteran’s Parade on November 10. Even worse, I spent all that time trying to get around the detours for the parade and never even got the lunch that I’d gone out to get. It was a pretty lousy temp job, but that sure ruined my weekend. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/10 "2017-11-09T02:18:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I had no idea Veterans Day was that complicated. 😉 > > Thank you for the explanation and links. This is the 21st Century. \*Everything \*is complicated. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/11 "2017-11-09T02:20:01Z")
Observed on Friday if the actual holiday falls on a Saturday. Observed on Monday if the actual holiday falls on Sunday. Fed here. We never miss a holiday. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/12 "2017-11-09T02:27:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I enjoy looking at all of the ads for Veterans’ Day sales, not one of which offers a discount for actual vets. :rolleyes: Eh, that would just be an inducement to lying, given that the stores have no way to check anything. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/13 "2017-11-09T02:39:00Z")
Depends. Active duty, part timers, & retirees have ID cards. As do people receiving VA benefits. In my state anyone who’s a vet can have that fact marked on their driver’s license. After showing the DMV proper proof of their service. Pretty much every retailer running a special knows what to look for. The free minor league baseball games and discounted pancakes are the only Veteren’s benefit I ever have or probably ever will qualify for. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/14 "2017-11-09T03:33:29Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Eh, that would just be an inducement to lying, given that the stores have no way to check anything. Unless you show up with a retired/active ID card or your DD-214. It’s not all that difficult. Ninja’d by one hour. ---
**Author:** ![ski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ski)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/15 "2017-11-09T03:35:06Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I enjoy looking at all of the ads for Veterans’ Day sales, not one of which offers a discount for actual vets. :rolleyes: What do you mean? There are all kinds of discounts for Veterans on Veterans Day. Our family pretty much makes a sport of it. Free haircuts, free car washes, free meals, etc. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/16 "2017-11-09T12:47:22Z")
I read it as “they’re not selling actual vets.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![howye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@howye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/howye)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/17 "2017-11-09T12:59:56Z")
> [@Buttercup\_Smith](#): > > Observed on Friday if the actual holiday falls on a Saturday. Observed on Monday if the actual holiday falls on Sunday. Fed here. We never miss a holiday. Same here in Ohio. What are actual state holidays and how they are observed are actually spelled out in state law. For fun this year Veteran’s Day is on Saturday, Friday is the observed holiday, and the parade downtown is Thursday when there will actually be people around. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/18 "2017-11-09T13:04:10Z")
Aren’t banking holidays regulated? I thought that under Fed rules they cannot close in excess of two days in a row, so sometimes they have to adjust. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/19 "2017-11-09T15:21:16Z")
> [@ski](#): > > What do you mean? There are all kinds of discounts for Veterans on Veterans Day. Our family pretty much makes a sport of it. Free haircuts, free car washes, free meals, etc. Perhaps in your town. I’ve seen none here, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. ---
**Author:** ![WildBlueYonder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ce7236/32.png) [@WildBlueYonder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildBlueYonder)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2017, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079/20 "2017-11-09T17:31:33Z")
So mail coming Friday or Saturday or neither?? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/veterans-day-on-saturday-why-not-monday/801079.md?page=2)