Veterans Day in Puerto Rico
Veterans Day is a public holiday in Puerto Rico, fixed on November 11. Puerto Rico law lists it among the holidays government employees are entitled to observe, and the island’s national cemetery in Bayamón offers a local place to remember those who served.[1][3]
A holiday on November 11
Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Plan Compliance Act states that government employees are entitled to holidays declared by the governor or by law. Its holiday list names Veterans Day on November 11.[1]
The date stays November 11 even when it falls on a weekend. The federal Office of Personnel Management may apply an “in lieu of” workday to federal employees when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. Federal work schedules and local government schedules are determined under their respective rules.[1][4]
Meaning and history
Veterans Day honors people who served in the United States Armed Forces, including those who served in wartime and peacetime. It began as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918; in 1954, the United States changed the holiday’s name to Veterans Day and broadened its purpose to honor veterans of all wars.[2][4]
The holiday has a specific place in Puerto Rico’s military history. The Puerto Rico National Cemetery in Bayamón, the only national cemetery on the island, was dedicated on Veterans Day in 1949. Its history records that local and military officials attended the dedication, and that the cemetery became a place of remembrance for Puerto Ricans who served in the armed forces.[3]
Remembering veterans in Puerto Rico
The cemetery provides a permanent site for remembrance in Bayamón, about 13 miles from San Juan. It is open to visitors on Veterans Day from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.[3]
Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs describes Veterans Day as a time to thank and honor all who served, while Memorial Day primarily remembers military personnel who died in service. That distinction helps explain the holiday’s focus on living veterans as well as those who have died.[4]
What to expect
Puerto Rico law grants the holiday to government employees, but it does not establish a universal closure for private businesses. The Veterans Affairs Department notes that governments and businesses make their own decisions about opening, so bank, shop, restaurant, school, and transport schedules should be checked with each provider.[1][4]
Frequently asked questions
Is Veterans Day a public holiday in Puerto Rico?
Yes. Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Plan Compliance Act lists Veterans Day as a holiday for government employees on November 11.[1]
Does Puerto Rico observe Veterans Day on another day when November 11 is on a weekend?
What is open on Veterans Day?
Where can visitors go to remember veterans?
The Puerto Rico National Cemetery is in Bayamón and is open to visitors on Veterans Day. It is the only national cemetery in Puerto Rico and was dedicated on the holiday in 1949.[3]
Sources and references
Sources used for Veterans Day in Puerto Rico:
- “Fiscal Plan Compliance Act” [Act No. 26-2017, as amended]- Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto, Government of Puerto Rico
- Veterans Day- U.S. Government Publishing Office
- Puerto Rico National Cemetery- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Cemetery Administration
- Veterans Day Facts and Information- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs