Is There Mail on Veterans Day? Post Office Open Hours, Delivery Today

Saturday, November 11, is Veterans Day, a federal holiday that celebrates those who served in the U.S. military. As a federal holiday, many stores, businesses and government building hours will be affected on Saturday—and on Friday in observance of the important day.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day was first celebrated on November 11, 1918, when an armistice was reached between both sides in World War I. The war officially ended on June 28, 1919, following the signing of the Treaty of Versailles but fighting stopped several months prior in November.

The armistice “went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars,” the Department of Veterans Affairs states.

“Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good,” the Department of Veterans Affairs says.

The United States Postal Service logo is seen on a new electric postal vehicle during an event announcing the Postal Service’s plan on implementing electric vehicles, at the Postal Service Headquarters on December 20, 2022 in Washington, DC. The USPS is expected to be closed on November 11, which is Veterans Day. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

As with many other federal holidays throughout the U.S., government buildings will be closed, prompting questions about the United States Postal Service (USPS) will be delivering mail.

The USPS holiday schedule shows that Saturday, November 11, is recognized as a federal holiday for the agency and states that when holidays fall on a Saturday, “for most USPS employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes.”

A spokesperson for the USPS told Newsweek on Thursday that the agency will have “normal Post Office operations on Friday, Nov. 10, including mail delivery and retail services.”

“In observance of Veterans Day, Post Offices will be closed on Saturday, Nov. 11, with no mail delivery or retail services,” the spokesperson told Newsweek.

For the United Parcel Service (UPS), its website shows that all of its services will be operational on Veterans Day this year, including UPS Store locations.

The FedEx website shows that the company’s home delivery and ground services, as well as the FedEx Office, will be open on Veterans Day. FedEx Express and FedEx Ground Economy are listed as “modified service.”

The U.S. Department of Defense says that while some may confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day and defines the latter as “a time to remember those who gave their lives for our country, particularly in battle or from wounds they suffered in battle,” while 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.”

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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