Veterans Day Post Office
Anish
March 24, 2024

Veterans Day is a United States holiday that evolved from Armistice Day, established to commemorate the end of the First World War on November 11, 1918. The U.S. celebrated Armistice Day until it was changed in 1954 to Veterans Day, honoring all American veterans.
Over 100,000 United States Postal Service (USPS) employees served in the military. The Postal Service is one of the largest employers of military veterans, and it is fitting for the nation to acknowledge the heroism of all who served during Veterans Day.
How does USPS celebrate Veterans Day, and are post offices open for business on that holiday? Is USPS open on other federal holidays celebrated in the United States?
This article tackles Veterans Day, its origins, and how the Postal Service celebrates this federal holiday. Also, it discusses the policies followed by USPS during other federal or national holidays in the country.
Furthermore, this write-up compares the services provided by other courier companies during holidays. Additionally, it lists the different federal holidays observed by the nation.
For more information about local post offices near you, visit FindPostOffice.org. You can access over 31,330 USPS retail locations in the country. You can get their contact numbers to track your shipments that may be affected by holidays celebrated in the United States.
Postal Schedule for Veteran’s Day Holiday
The U.S. Postal Service, along with millions of Americans, observe the great significance of Veterans Day. Over 500,000 USPS career employees commemorate this federal holiday by offering a pause on the company’s giant logistics machinery for one day.
Is the Post Office Open on Veterans Day?
All U.S. Post Office facilities are officially closed during Veterans Day to honor the sacrifices of American veterans who defended the country’s freedom.
However, despite the history behind Veterans Day, many people, including businesses, do not observe this holiday widely. In response, USPS allowed retail offices to determine whether their community or area needed delivery services during the days leading to the holiday.
The USPS headquarters outlined a sample planning advice for Veterans Day to help handle specific courier needs during the holiday.
- All office should review their staffing plans for Veterans Day carefully.
- Post offices should make the necessary adjustments to meet community needs.
- All delivery units must take action before Veterans Day to ensure units are in a current status.
- Post offices should consider recent mail volumes and adjust to local circumstances.
Furthermore, USPS personnel are instructed to check mail collection areas in various USPS locations, like Post Office collection boxes, lobby drops, and self-service kiosks, to check collection overflow.
Does the Mail Run on Veterans Day? Is There Mail Delivery?
As a show of respect to the millions of Americans who served the country, USPS halts its mail deliveries during Veterans Day except for the following:
- Holiday Premium Priority Mail Express
- Holiday Same-Day Package Delivery (spoke structure)
USPS advises beforehand that services during Veterans Day are limited so that you can plan with your delivery schedule.
Here is a simple guide on planning deliveries during holidays like Veterans Day.
Let’s say Veterans Day falls on a Saturday. You can choose mail services that will ideally deliver your mail or packages by Friday. For example:
- USPS Priority Mail Express: You can have your items shipped the day before Friday.
- Priority Mail or First-Class Mail: Because the guaranteed delivery time for both services is one to three days, you can ship your items on Tuesday.
- USPS Media Mail and Retail Ground: Because both have guaranteed delivery times of two to eight days, you must ship your items on Friday, a week before the holiday.
You can adjust the dates to fit the day when the holiday occurs. For example, in 2021, Veterans Day fell on a Thursday, November 11, and normal USPS operations resumed the following day, Friday, November 12.
You can use the abovementioned delivery schedule to plan your shipment before the holiday.
Are Courier Services Running on Veterans Day?
It can’t be helped that there are cases you still need courier services even during holidays.
USPS has already announced that their post offices are closed during Veterans Day. So, if you need mail deliveries during the holiday, the alternative is to choose other courier services.
UPS (United Parcel Service)
UPS informs the public that their pickup and delivery services are available on Veterans Day. However, certain services like UPS SurePost and UPS Mail innovations deliveries need one extra business day to compensate for USPS’ observance of this federal holiday.
Also, all The UPS Store locations are open on Veterans Day. So, if you need a courier service during the holiday, UPS is an alternative to contact.
FedEx (Federal Express)
FedEx also announced that their package delivery services remain fully operational on Veterans Day, except for FedEx SmartPost, which will have a modified service. You can use FedEx services as an alternative to USPS during holidays like Veterans Day.
What Is Open and What Is Closed on Veterans Day?
In 2023, Veterans Day falls on a Saturday. It means that the observation of this holiday happens on Friday, the day before. On the other hand, if the holiday falls on a Sunday, it’s observed on Monday, the following day.
USPS employee schedules also practice similarly adjusted observance during the weekend holiday. For most Postal Service staff, the Friday before is a holiday when Veterans Day falls on a Saturday.
On the other hand, the Monday after is treated as such when Veterans Day falls on a Sunday. These adjustments are for pay and leave purposes.
Most banks are closed during Veterans Day, but banks inside malls may continue to operate. On the other hand, the stock exchange remains open despite the holiday.
Most businesses that observe this holiday will be closed. However, retail stores, restaurants, grocery stores, and malls will remain open, especially during holidays. However, they may alter their opening hours.
Meanwhile, national parks may offer free admission during federal holidays like Veterans Day.
Are Schools Open?
Most schools are closed on Veterans Day. However, whether to open or close isn’t decided by federal law. The local school board sets the holidays observed by public schools, and it’s at their discretion to include Veterans Day.
On the other hand, private officials set the holidays observed by private schools and colleges. It’s best to contact the local school board or the educational institution to confirm whether there’s school during Veterans Day.
Are Government Offices Open on Veterans Day?
All non-essential federal government offices are closed on Veterans Day. Federal employees can receive a day off and still get paid. This holiday is a national observance of honoring the gallantry and sacrifice of the men and women who served in the military.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) manages the closing schedule of federal government offices. However, state and local governments, including schools, are not obligated or required to follow closures imposed by the OPM.
Non-government businesses can freely decide whether to close shop during holidays or remain open. However, they may need to abide by labor policies concerning employees working during federal holidays.
Post Office Locations and Hours
Over 31,330 USPS retail locations nationwide cater to 161.4 million American addresses in 50 states. You can get information about your local post office by visiting USPS.com or FindPostOffice.org.
The regular USPS office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. However, employees have shifts. Mail processing clerks start their day at 3:00 AM and end at 7:00 AM. Mail sorters follow up the shift from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Some post offices are open on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. USPS has limited delivery services on Sundays, but post offices are closed.
The following are service schedules for different holidays observed nationally in the United States.
USPS Holiday Service Schedule
The U.S. Postal Service lists national holidays observed by the federal government and other federal agencies. This list can help people, including businesses, to plan their deliveries in months when there are holidays.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Schedule
In observance of this holiday, USPS offices are open on Christmas Eve (December 24th) if it falls on a weekday. However, they will be closed on Christmas Day.
Aside from being a major Christian holiday, Christmas is also a federal holiday. Normal office operations usually resume the next business day unless it falls on a Saturday (for some offices) or Sunday. The U.S. Postal Service usually issues a holiday advisory, so better to check the USPS website.
Local Post Office Hours
The office hours during holidays like Christmas depend on the local post office. They can decide whether to extend office hours to accommodate the volume of customers wanting to send packages during the holiday.
USPS Blue Collection Boxes
Inside most post offices are collections boxes where you can deposit your mail or packages for shipment. These boxes are typically painted blue, hence the name “blue collection boxes.” In some facilities, collection boxes are connected to chutes or free-standing receptacles.
Regular Mail Delivery
Regular mail delivery is also paused because post offices are closed during the holiday. However, USPS Priority Mail Express is the only mail service that continues its delivery during holidays.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day Schedules
USPS is closed on New Year’s Day (January 1st) as it’s one of the 11 federal holidays observed in the United States.
However, the Postal Service will remain open on New Year’s Eve (December 31st). The opening and closing hours may be similar to those at Christmas.
Regular mail deliveries typically resume on January 3rd, except if it falls on a weekend and only for certain services and packages.
Local Post Office Hours
New Year’s Eve is not a federal holiday, and post offices will remain open. In most locations, USPS office hours are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Staff shifts may differ from the actual opening and closing hours. However, on New Year’s Day, which is a federal holiday, USPS offices are closed.
It’s best to contact your local post office to know about any changes in schedule during New Year’s Eve. You can visit FindPostOffice.org for contact information for the nearest USPS retail location near you.
USPS Blue Collection Boxes
Collection boxes will also be available during holidays, similar to Christmas, and you can drop your mailpieces at a mail receptacle nearest to you. However, USPS personnel won’t pick up any accumulated mail in these receptacles on New Year’s Day.
Regular Mail Delivery
Priority Mail Express is the only mail service available during federal holidays, including New Year’s Day. Regular mailing service resumes on January 3rd or the next business day if it falls on a Sunday because USPS is closed that day.
Holidays and Events: Other Holidays When the USPS Is Closed
The United States observes 11 federal holidays in which government offices are closed, including USPS. Here is a list of federal holidays and their short descriptions.
- New Year’s Day (January 1st) is the first federal holiday of the year. It’s the first day of the Gregorian calendar and has traditional and religious significance for many cultures. New Year’s Day has been observed as a federal holiday since 1885.
- Martin Luther King’s Birthday (3rd Monday in January) commemorates the birthday of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr.
The actual date of MLK was January 15, 1929, and the holiday is observed on the closest Monday to that date, typically the 3rd Monday of the month.
- Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February) celebrates the birthday of General George Washington, one of the nation’s founding fathers and a general during the American Revolution.
The general’s birthday is on February 22, but it’s celebrated on the 3rd Monday of the same month. The holiday is also called Presidents Day.
- Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) honors people who have given their lives to defend the nation in all its wars. The holiday is observed on the last Monday in May.
The commemoration started during the American Civil War when people offered flowers on the graves of people who died in battles.
- Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19th) commemorates the emancipation that ended slavery in the United States.
- Independence Day (July 4th) commemorates the nation’s independence when the Continental Congress passed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September) honors workers and their contributions to the nation’s growth. Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894.
- Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October) commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus, an Italian explorer funded by Spain to explore the New World.
The original landing date was October 12, 1492, but Americans today celebrate this holiday on the second Monday of October.
- Veterans Day (November 11th) commemorates the men and women who have served in the military and defended the freedom of this nation.
- Thanksgiving Day (the 4th Thursday in November) is one of the cherished holidays in American culture, where people celebrate the blessings received in the past year.
Many believe the holiday commemorates the 1621 harvest feast shared by the Wampanoag people and the Plymouth pilgrims.
- Christmas Day (December 25th) is a worldwide Christian celebration of the traditional date of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas has been considered a federal holiday since 1870.
USPS observes these federal holidays and closes most of its operations, with a few exemptions mentioned above.
You can visit FindPostOffice.org to check the schedule of your local post office, especially on the day before the holiday. Some USPS facilities adjust their schedule to give employees more time to enjoy these holidays with their families and friends.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Are there Veterans Day deals?
There are no specific Veterans Day deals on mail services provided by USPS, FedEx, and UPS. However, they give discounts on military deliveries at any time.
USPS offers military discounts for all military mail or packages sent to any APO (Army or Air Force Post Office), FPO (Fleet Post Office), or DPO (Diplomatic Post Office).
On the other hand, UPS provides up to 20% military discount on shipping via UPS Ground Shipment and 40% off on UPS 1-, 2- or 3-Day Air shipment, UPS Worldwide services, and UPS Standard to Canada and Mexico.
If applicable, you can get 40% off in domestic residential and delivery area surcharges.
Meanwhile, FedEx currently doesn’t provide military discounts. However, policies may change, and you should check the company’s website for updates.
References
- The Origins of Veterans Day
https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/celebrate/vetday.pdf - Career opportunities
https://about.usps.com/careers/career-opportunities/transitioning-military.htm - Postal Facts Size and Scope
https://facts.usps.com/size-and-scope/ - Headquarters Operational Policy for the Veterans Day Holiday, Friday, November 11, 2022
https://about.usps.com/who/legal/foia/documents/delivery-operations/del-ops-veterans-day-2022.pdf - Veterans Day 2023
https://www.military.com/veterans-day#:~:text=Many%20schools%20do,confirm%20their%20calendar - Veterans Day Frequently Asked Questions
https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetday_faq.asp