What’s Open and Closed on Veterans Day 2024

Veterans Day, observed on Monday, November 11, 2024, is a special holiday to honor U.S. military veterans—both those who are currently serving and those who have served in the past. As one of the ten federal holidays in the United States, Veterans Day means that some businesses and services will be closed. Here’s a helpful guide to what’s open and closed on Veterans Day this year.

In November 1918, Wall Street was alive with celebrations, as confetti filled the air, American flags waved, and crowds of people gathered to mark Armistice Day. Buyenlarge, Getty Images

What’s Open and Closed on Veterans Day 2024

Most major banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, will be closed on Veterans Day. However, ATMs will still be available, and online banking services will operate as usual.

The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will also be closed for the day, along with the Federal Reserve.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will be closed on Veterans Day. This means there will be no regular mail delivery, and post offices will remain shut. However, you can still access postal services online.

• FedEx Office locations will remain open on Veterans Day, but most FedEx shipping services will not be available. However, FedEx Home Delivery and FedEx Custom Critical services will continue.
• UPS Stores will operate during regular hours, and UPS pickup and delivery services will be in effect. Be aware that SurePost and Mail Innovations shipments may take an extra day to arrive due to the holiday.

Most government offices, including DMVs, public schools, and local libraries, will be closed in observance of Veterans Day. If you need to visit a government office or public service, it's a good idea to check your local office's hours beforehand.

Veterans Day is a great opportunity to enjoy nature. All national parks will be open, and the best part is that entrance fees to national parks will be waived for the holiday. So, if you’re looking to explore, take advantage of this opportunity to visit your nearest national park!

Many retail stores will be open on Veterans Day, including popular outlets like Costco, Target, Walmart, and Kroger. However, holiday hours may vary, so it’s a good idea to check with your local stores to confirm their specific hours for the day.

While Veterans Day is a time to honor those who served in the military, it’s also a day when many services and businesses adjust their hours. Banks and government offices will be closed, and the postal service will not be operating. On the flip side, national parks will be open, and many stores and some shipping services will maintain regular hours.

Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day, was established to honor the end of World War I. The day commemorates the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918, which marked the cessation of hostilities between the Allied forces and Germany. The first Armistice Day was proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1919, focusing on peace and recognizing the contributions of those who served in the Great War.

In 1938, Armistice Day became a federal holiday dedicated to honoring World War I veterans. The legislation designated November 11 as a day "dedicated to the cause of world peace," and it continued to be celebrated as Armistice Day in recognition of those who fought in WWI.

In 1947, the first celebration of what would become known as "Veterans Day" took place, thanks to the efforts of Raymond Weeks, a Navy veteran of World War II. Weeks campaigned for a national day to honor all U.S. military veterans, not just those who served in World War I. He organized the inaugural celebration in Birmingham, Alabama, and continued to lead the National Veterans Day Celebration there until his death in 1985. This movement ultimately led to the creation of Veterans Day, a holiday honoring all American veterans.