In the United States, Veterans Day is a federal holiday observed annually on November 11. This date commemorates the anniversary of the armistice that formally ended major hostilities in World War I, which took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The holiday honors all individuals who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The subject of the inquiry, "Veterans Day," functions as a proper noun. This grammatical classification is significant because, as a proper noun, it refers to a unique, specific entity with a fixed date in the calendar. Originally established as "Armistice Day" in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson to honor the veterans of World War I, it was later expanded. In 1954, following World War II and the Korean War, Congress amended the act, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans" to honor American veterans of all wars. Unlike holidays that are observed on a specific Monday to create a three-day weekend, Veterans Day was returned to its fixed November 11 date in 1978 due to the profound historical significance of the armistice.
In practice, if November 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the federal government and many businesses may observe the holiday on the preceding Friday or the following Monday, respectively. However, commemorative ceremonies and public observances, such as the national ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, are traditionally held on November 11 itself, regardless of the day of the week on which it falls.
