In 1968, Veterans Day, November 11, fell on a Monday. Today, we “observe” Veterans Day because the holiday fell on a Sunday. Veterans Day is one of only four federal holidays that occur on a fixed date, the others being New Year’s Day, Independence Day, and Christmas.
Following adoption of the federal Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968, other holidays became “floaters,” allowing for more long weekends. That process became effective in 1971.
Originally, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act called for Veterans Day to be observed on the fourth Monday in October. There was so much resistance to this change from the traditional (46 states continued to observe the holiday on November 11) that Congress changed it back to November 11 in 1975, becoming effective in 1978.
I don’t remember if Veterans Day was a “holiday” for us at OCS. I also don’t believe we, as “officer candidates under instruction,” about six weeks into active duty, qualified as veterans at the time.
Nonetheless, we do now. I extend best wishes on this day to all the members of A6903, and to all other NAVOCS grads viewing this blog.