What Does Veterans Day Celebrate? Austin Marks Wednesday With City Offices Closed and Trash Pickup on Schedule
It is the morning's most-searched question in America. Veterans Day honors everyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces — and in Austin it closes City Hall, the courts and the libraries for a day, while curbside pickup runs as usual.
AUSTIN — The most-searched question in the United States on Wednesday morning is a simple one: what does Veterans Day celebrate? The federal holiday, observed every November 11, honors Americans who have served in the United States armed forces, in wartime and in peacetime alike.
The date is the point. The holiday began as Armistice Day, marking the end of fighting in World War I on November 11, 1918, and it remains distinct from Memorial Day, which honors those who died in service. Veterans Day is for the living — the men and women who wore the uniform and came home.
In Austin, the City of Austin has closed its administrative offices and other municipal facilities for Wednesday, November 11, including the Municipal and Community courts, the Austin Animal Shelter, libraries, museums, and cultural, recreation and senior centers. Normal business hours resume Thursday, November 12. Austin Community College is also closed for the day, honoring its veteran students, faculty and staff.
Several city services run as normal. Austin Resource Recovery curbside collections follow regular schedules, and city parks, golf courses, cemeteries and year-round pools are open, though recreation and senior centers are closed. Utility payments can still be made online or by phone; the Recycle and Reuse Center is closed, while Austin Water's Hornsby Bend plant stays open regular hours, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., for yard trimmings and brush drop-off.
