Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11. The subject of the query, "Veterans Day," is a proper noun. This grammatical classification is significant because, as a proper noun, it refers to a specific, singular entitya particular holiday with a fixed, historically significant date, rather than a general concept.
The selection of November 11 is historically deliberate. It marks the anniversary of the armistice that ended major hostilities of World War I in 1918. The cessation of fighting occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Originally commemorated as Armistice Day, the U.S. holiday was officially renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor American veterans of all wars. While the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 briefly moved the observance to the fourth Monday in October, public sentiment and the historical importance of the November 11 date led to its official return to the original date in 1978.
The practical implication of this fixed date is that Veterans Day is always celebrated on November 11, regardless of the day of the week. This differs from other federal holidays that are set to a particular Monday to create a three-day weekend. When November 11 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the federal government and many organizations observe the holiday on the adjacent weekdayFriday if it falls on a Saturday, and Monday if it falls on a Sunday. This adherence to a specific calendar date underscores the holiday's direct link to a pivotal moment in world history.
