Video above: Trump designates Thursday, May, 8, as ‘Victory Day’ for the US to commemorate World War II
(NEXSTAR) — Tuesday, November 11, may already be marked on your calendar. It may also be a day off for you if you work at a post office, bank, or other company that treats Veterans Day as a holiday.
The day will have a second significance, following a presidential decision earlier this year.
In May, President Trump established two new national holidays. Trump explained on Truth Social in May that both holidays are meant to commemorate the ends of World Wars I and II.
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“We won two World Wars, but we never took credit for it — Everyone else does!” Trump said at the time. “All over the World, the Allies are celebrating the Victory we had in World War II. The only Country that doesn’t celebrate is the United States of America, and the Victory was only accomplished because of us.”
The first holiday was observed shortly after Trump’s announcement on May 8. It marked the end of World War II.
The second aligns with Veterans Day.
The U.S. has observed Veterans Day in some form since it became a legal holiday in 1938. Originally known as Armistice Day, it was meant to honor veterans of World War I. On November 11, 1918, Germany and the Allies signed an armistice agreement to end what was then known as the Great War.
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After World War II, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day, and its purpose grew to honor all U.S. veterans from every war. Great Britain, France, Australia, and Canada also honor their veterans of World War I and World War II on or near November 11.
Initially, Trump wanted to rename Veterans Day to “Victory Day for World War I Day.” A day later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that Veterans Day would not be renamed but that the new holiday would “just be an additional proclamation.”
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Veterans Day will remain intact and largely unaffected by the expected proclamation from Trump. You’ll also still have off work if your company observes the federal holiday. And if your company does not treat it as a day off, it will likely stay that way.
Trump previously said the country would not be closing for the two “very important Holidays” because “we already have too many Holidays in America — There are not enough days left in the year.”
You’ll have a day off soon, however. Thanksgiving is just a few weeks away.
