The subject of the query, the proper noun "Veterans Day," designates a U.S. federal holiday that is, by law, observed annually on November 11th. The date is a fixed component of the holiday's identity and does not change from year to year, unlike holidays that are set to fall on a particular day of the week, such as the first Monday of September.
The significance of the date, November 11th, is rooted in its historical context. It was originally established as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I, which formally ceased on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. In 1938, an Act of Congress made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday. Following World War II and the Korean War, legislation was amended in 1954 to replace the word "Armistice" with "Veterans," thereby expanding the holiday's scope to honor American veterans of all wars.
This direct linkage to a specific historical date is a defining characteristic of the observance. While federal government offices and many schools and businesses close in observance of the holiday, the actual commemorative ceremonies and moments of reflection are centered on November 11th itself. If the date falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the federally observed day off for workers is typically shifted to the adjacent Friday or Monday, respectively, but the historical anniversary remains fixed to the 11th.
