See which Florida schools will close for Veterans Day. Hint: It's not all of them

Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
·5 min read
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Halloween costumes are competing with Christmas decorations for shoppers' attention on store shelves, but another holiday, this a federal one, will arrive next month before Thanksgiving: Veterans Day.

Veterans Day is one of the rare holidays that is always observed on Nov. 11, no matter what day of the week it is.

World War I officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, but fighting had ceased seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Nov. 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The day is one to "honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good."

When is Veterans Day 2023?

Veterans Day will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 11, less than a week after the time change.

Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. ET Nov. 5 and we'll move our clocks back an hour.

Daylight saving time: US Senate OK'd Sunshine Protection Act. Florida to still fall back, for now

Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?

Yes, Veterans Day is a federal holiday.

When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, federal employees observe the day on the preceding Friday. So federal employees will be off Nov. 10 this year.

Is Veterans Day a Florida holiday?

Yes, and just like the federal holiday, Florida state employees will observe Veterans Day on Nov. 10.

Will there be mail delivery on Veterans Day? What about Amazon, FedEx and UPS?

No. The U.S. Postal Service recognizes Veterans Day on Nov. 11 as one of 11 federal holidays and will be closed.

FedEx offices will be open Nov. 10. There will be home delivery on Nov. 11, but check its website for exact services available Nov. 11.

UPS pickup and delivery services are available Nov. 11. UPS SurePost and UPS Mail Innovations deliveries will require one additional business day because of the federal holiday.

The UPS Store locations will be open.

Amazon does deliver on Veterans Day.

Will Publix, Walmart, Target, Sam's Club and Costco be open on Veterans Day?

Most retail stores, grocery stores and restaurants are open on this holiday to serve customers. While the following schedules are followed by most locations, always check your local business for any changes.

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Will there be school on Veterans Day?

No. The actual holiday is on a Saturday.

Will schools give students a holiday on Friday, Nov. 10?

More than half of the school districts in our circulation areas will be closed Friday, Nov. 10, for Veterans Day.

There is no legal requirement that schools close on Veterans Day; individual states or school districts are free to establish their own policies on school closings, according to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Check calendars for your school district:

Is it Veterans Day, Veterans' Day or Veteran's Day?

It's Veterans Day.

"Veterans Day does not include an apostrophe but does include an "s" at the end of "veterans" because it is not a day that "belongs" to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans, according to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

What's the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

"Memorial Day is a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle or from wounds they suffered in battle.

"Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive — although it’s largely intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices," according to the U.S. Department of Defense.

Was Veterans Day ever celebrated on another date other than Nov. 11?

Yes. The Uniform Holiday Bill in June 1968 was intended to provide for three-day weekends for federal employees by giving them Mondays off for Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day (on the fourth Monday in October), and Columbus Day, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on Oct. 25, 1971. It didn't last long.

On Sept. 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 to return the observance of Veterans Day back to its original date of Nov. 11, beginning in 1978.

Which states do not have Veterans Day as a holiday?

Nonessential federal government offices are closed on Veterans Day, providing a paid day off to all affected employees. All state governments also provide a paid day off to affected employees except Wisconsin, which provides a floating "paid personal holiday" instead.

Wisconsin provides nine legal holidays; Veterans Day is not one of them.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Veterans Day 2023: When observed, schools closed, no mail delivery