BY AMY SHERMAN | asherma2@mlive.com
From national chains, to locally owned spots, businesses across Michigan are offering special deals and discounts to both active military and veterans November 11 and 12 in honor of Veterans Day 2018.
Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11. This year, since it falls on a Sunday, the official federal holiday will be observed on Monday November 12. Many of these Veterans Day specials will be offered both days.
A special day to honor the service of all of our current military and our veterans, these deals are in no way an adequate thank you for what our active military personnel do for us each day, or the sacrifices that our veterans have made for our country in the past. These freebies and specials are just a token of these businesses thanks to those who have served and our serving our country.
From a grateful nation, we thank you for your service, today and everyday
Veterans Day is officially celebrated on November 11 each year. It’s a special day to commemorate all of those who have and continue serving in our armed services, and the holiday is held on November 11 annually because that was the day in 1918 when World War I ended.
Veterans Day is a federal holiday, and when it falls on a weekend — like it did for Veterans Day 2017, and like it does again this year — it is generally observed on the closest weekday.
Veterans Day 2018 is on a Sunday, when many offices, businesses, schools, banks, and the post office would be closed anyway. So, in most cases, Veterans Day is being observed on Monday, November 12, this year. Here are more specifics on whether banks, post offices, restaurants, stores, schools, and more are open or closed for Veterans Day.
Are Banks Open or Closed on Veterans Day 2018?
Many banks are closed on every Sunday, so it’s especially difficult to tell if banks are open or closed on Veterans Day 2018 itself, or on Monday, November 12, in observance of Veterans Day. Peoples United Bank and Eastern Bank, for example, state specifically that their locations are closed on Sunday, November 11, for Veterans Day, but open on Monday.
Meanwhile, the branches of banks like Chase, U.S. Bank, and First Citizens Bank are closed on Monday, November 12, in observation of Veterans Day, and have normal business hours on Sunday, November 11. (That doesn’t necessarily mean these banks are open on Sunday; they are simply closed or open as if it was a regular Sunday.) The branches of some other banks, like TD Bank, are open on both Sunday, November 11, and Monday, November 12.
Overall, there’s a good chance your bank is closed on Sunday and Monday. But because there is no overarching rule for whether banks are open or closed on Veterans Day 2018, you should check out your local bank’s website or call up to see about Veterans Day hours.
Are Post Offices Open on Veterans Day? Is Mail Delivered on Monday?
Post offices are closed on November 11 in 2018 because it is a Sunday. Monday, November 12, is a postal holiday — the day that Veterans Day 2018 is being observed — so post offices are closed and no mail will be delivered. However, most FedEx and UPS stores and services are open on Monday.
Is the Stock Market Open or Closed for Veterans Day?
The stock market is always closed on Sunday, so it is closed on November 11. As for Monday, November 12, when Veterans Day 2018 is being widely observed, the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq, and other major U.S.-based exchanges are open for business with regular hours.
Are Schools Open or Closed on Monday for Veterans Day?
Most schools, including public schools in major cities like Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, and Boston are closed on Monday, November 12, in observance of Veterans Day 2018. There are exceptions, though: In Atlanta, for example, public schools are open on Monday, November 12.
While most schools are closed for Veterans Day on Monday, it’s best to check your school’s online calendar to see if kids and teachers have the day off on November 12.
Is Walmart Open on Veterans Day? Are Restaurants and Stores Open or Closed?
Walmart is open on Sunday and Monday. Likewise, virtually all major restaurants and stores are open on Veterans Day itself and Monday, November 12. In fact, many stores host huge sales over Veterans Day holiday weekend, and dozens of restaurants are open on Veterans Day with special freebies and discounts available for customers with military ID.
Are Government Offices Open or Closed on Monday for Veterans Day?
Monday, November 12, 2018, is recognized as a federal holiday, and all non-essential federal government offices are closed. Monday is also the day Veterans Day is being observed at the vast majority of state and local government offices, and locally-funded institutions such as libraries. They are all generally closed on Monday, November 12.
Sunday, Nov. 11 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War. A armistice between the Allied nations and Germany took effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month that year.
A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first Armistice Day.
It wasn't until 1938 that Armstice Day became a legal holiday. Congress changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954.
On Sunday, veterans and state officials commemorated the 100th anniversary of the end of the "Great War" with the ringing of bells at the Trenton War Memorial.
Parking will be free at all Massachusetts state parks on Veterans Day and visitors are being encouraged to check out various sites within the park system that pay homage to veterans and the military.
The parking fee waiver on Sunday corresponds with the National Park Service policy of free admission to all of its parks across the country on Veterans Day.
State Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco Urena says there are several sites within the state park system honoring those who sacrificed their lives for freedom.
Sites managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation include Fort Independence at Castle Island; Fort Revere in Hull; and the Massachusetts Veterans War Memorial tower atop Mount Greylock in Adams, the state's highest peak.
In Boston, the city's annual Veterans Day parade starts at 1 p.m. from the corner of Boylston and Charles Street. Military units, ROTC groups and marching bands will accompany veterans as they make their way up Boylston to Tremont Street. The parade ends at City Hall Plaza.
With reporting from the Associated Press and WBUR Newsroom.
