Why Veterans Day Lost Its Meaning to the Bottom Line
November 11, 2025
Veterans Day, November 11th, has always been special to me. Today, my bank is closed and the post office is silent. Yet, many local businesses are open, college classes are running, and life moves on with barely a pause. What makes this day even more profound for me is that my own father is a veteran. We observe Veterans Day, but we don't seem to observe the service or sacrifice it represents.
Why? Because today, a federal holiday no longer holds its original meaning—national day of rest or reflection. It means only that federal employees get the day off.
This erosion of observance is a quiet tragedy for which no one weeps. It speaks volumes about what we, as a nation, prioritize: Commerce always wins, especially over solemn reflection.
The History: From Armistice to Acquisition
Our confusion is rooted in the history of Veterans Day. It began as Armistice Day in 1919, marking the end of hostilities in World War I—specifically, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first commemoration, focusing on "solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service". It was a day dedicated to the cause of world peace.
1954: After World War II and the Korean War, Congress officially changed the name to Veterans Day to honor all American veterans, living and deceased, who served in all wars.
Purpose: The focus shifted from honoring the war dead (which is Memorial Day's role) to celebrating and thanking all who served.
Why Isn't Everything Closed?
The simple answer is that only government and banking institutions are mandated to close.
Closed: Federal offices, post offices, state and federal courts, and most banks are closed because they follow the Federal Reserve or the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) holiday schedule. Most public and private schools are also closed.
Open: Private businesses, including all major retail stores, grocery chains, restaurants, doctors' offices, and stock markets (NYSE/NASDAQ), remain open and operate as usual.
The decision for smaller, local businesses and even colleges to remain open is purely economic. They are not legally required to close. For national retailers, Veterans Day is a major promotional sales day. Our national commitment stops where the ledger starts.
What Should We Be Doing?
You're right to wonder if we're still meant to pause and reflect. The original spirit of Armistice Day—solemn reflection—is being lost beneath the crush of discount sales and regular business hours.
Veterans Day, as stated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, is intended as a "celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good."
We honor our veterans not just with parades and free meals but by actively creating space for remembrance. We should still be doing what Americans originally set out to do:
Reflect: Take a moment of silence at 11:00 AM to acknowledge the moment the guns fell silent in 1918.
Visit: Visit local cemeteries or memorials, or attend a ceremony arranged by one of your local veterans organizations.
Connect: The most vital way to honor the day is to connect with and thank a living veteran in your community.
The fact that so much of the country remains open today highlights the need for us to make a conscious, individual choice to prioritize respect and gratitude over consumerism. The spirit of Veterans Day demands it.
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