The subject of the query, "Veterans Day," is a proper noun referring to a U.S. federal holiday. The interrogative adverb "when" seeks a specific date for its observance, which is fixed annually on November 11. This date was chosen to commemorate the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I, which went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.
Originally established as Armistice Day in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson, the holiday was intended to honor the veterans of World War I. However, following World War II and the Korean War, which involved a larger mobilization of American forces, veterans service organizations urged Congress to amend the commemoration to honor veterans of all wars. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation officially changing the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day. While the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 briefly moved the observance to the fourth Monday in October, public sentiment for the historical significance of the original date led to the holiday being returned to its fixed date of November 11 in 1978.
In practical application, the holiday is observed on November 11 regardless of the day of the week on which it falls. For the purposes of federal and many state government closures and employee leave, if November 11 falls on a Saturday, the holiday is typically observed on the preceding Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. The purpose of the day is to honor all individuals who have served in the United States Armed Forces, distinguishing it from Memorial Day, which specifically honors military personnel who died in the line of duty.
