What’s Open and Closed on Veterans Day

(KNSI) — Today is Veterans Day, so here’s a list of what’s open and closed.

Local, county, state and federal offices, post offices and most banks are closed. Even though physical bank branches may be closed, online and mobile banking services will still be available. Both UPS and FedEx will be in regular delivery mode, but some physical locations may have modified hours. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are open for trading, and St. Cloud Metro Bus is running on a regular weekday schedule, but today, veterans ride for free. They must show their military ID when boarding for fixed routes and Northstar. Dial-a-Ride users should tell the dispatcher of their veteran status and show ID before boarding. Parking downtown is also free today.

Plenty of places remain open on Veterans Day. The majority of major retailers, like Walmart and Target, are open at their regular hours, as are grocery stores. Most restaurants and fast-food chains are open, with some offering special discounts for veterans.

Veterans Day is a day to honor and thank those who have served. It is marked each year on November 11th to honor the end of World War I, which happened at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 when the Armistice Treaty with Germany went into effect. It wasn’t until May of 1938, just over a year before Germany invaded Poland to start World War II, that it was recognized as a legal holiday. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all war veterans. It is different from Memorial Day, which came from commemorations of the Civil War. Memorial Day is a day to honor those who fought and died in service.

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