Post offices, banks to close in Illinois and nationwide Tuesday. Here’s why
Veterans Day will be recognized in Illinois and across the U.S. Tuesday, Nov. 11. The federal holiday honors all veterans who have served the nation, while Memorial Day, which takes place in May, honors those who died during military service.
Many metro-east restaurants will offer free meals or other specials to veterans and active-duty members Tuesday, including certain locations of 54th Street Bar & Grill, Applebee’s, Cracker Barrel and more.
Southwest Illinois residents can also attend several ceremonies and parades, including Belleville’s 27th annual Veterans Day Ceremony and others.
While grocery stores will generally be open for regular hours Tuesday, certain other utilities will close.
All U.S. Postal Service locations will close for Veterans Day, and regular mail service will not take place. Only Priority Mail Express items will be delivered that day, according to an Oct. 29 USPS news release.
“On this important day we honor the military veterans who have served our nation,” Postmaster General and CEO David Steiner said in the release. “The Postal Service is proud to be one of the largest civilian employers of America’s veterans. Their dedication, discipline and commitment to service enrich our organization and strengthen our connection to the communities we serve.”
Although post offices will be closed, people can still access self-service kiosks in some lobbies. You can buy stamps at the kiosks, as well as track packages and more. Regular mail service will resume Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Will banks close for Veterans Day?
Banks in Illinois and across the U.S. will generally be closed for Veterans Day, as well, as it is a Federal Reserve Bank Holiday.
With the holiday season approaching soon, you can also expect bank and mail service closures for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For those planning to mail holiday cards or gifts, USPS recommends sending them no later than Wednesday, Dec. 17 by USPS Ground Advantage or first-class mail, by Thursday, Dec. 18 for priority mail and by Saturday, Dec. 20 for priority mail express for an expected arrival date before Christmas.
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