Parades, ceremonies and other social events planned for on and leading up to Nov. 11.
This Tuesday, Nov. 11, marks Veterans Day, the anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I in 1918 and what now serves as a day to honor all veterans. Across the nation, ceremonies will pay respect to veterans of all wars and branches of service.
The American Legion will be represented in Washington, D.C., where National Commander Dan K. Wiley will be in attendance at Arlington National Cemetery, along with other American Legion Family leadership, to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. National Vice Commander Stephen T. Weismann will lead an American Legion Family delegation that will lay a wreath at the Vietnam Wall.
And across the nation, American Legion posts, districts and departments – with their respective American Legion Family members – will observe the day by participating in or hosting parades, luncheons, ceremonies and other events that remind their communities of why Nov. 11 is important.
The following are a small sampling of how Veterans Day will be observed throughout the nation by the American Legion Family. All those in the organization are encouraged to share their Veterans Day commemorations via stories and photos at www.legiontown.org.
Alaska
In North Pole, Interior Alaska American Legion Post 99 will continue its partnership with the Eielson Air Force Base Honor Guard & North Pole High School JRTOC to host a flag retirement ceremony on Veterans Day. The ceremony will take place at Alaska Rangers Camp.
California
In Redondo Beach, South Bay Post 184’s American Legion Family is inviting the public to attend its Veterans Day BBQ and Picnic, where it will serve up hamburgers, hot dogs and hot links. Attendees are encouraged to bring a side dish.
Along with the food and live music, the ROTC color guard from Redondo Union High School will present the colors.
Florida
· In Babcock Ranch, American Legion Post 415’s Legion Family is hosting its First Annual Veterans Day Golf Cart Parade, and Car and Motorcycle Show. There will be prizes awarded for the top cars and motorcycles, and live music and food trucks will be on site.
· In Fernandina Beach, American Legion Post 54 is conducting a Veterans Day parade that will be followed by live music and lunch.
Georgia
· In Marietta, Horace Orr Post 29 American Legion is teaming with the city for a Veterans Day parade and ceremony. The parade will feature veterans, marching bands, drill teams, floats, and military vehicles, while World War II veteran Charlie Duncan will serve as grand marshal. Following the parade, a ceremony will take place at Glover Park that will include speeches, a gun salute, and Taps. Community members who wish to participate in the parade can register through the Horace Orr Post 29 website using the Veteran's Day Parade Application. Questions can be sent to parade@post29marietta.org.
· In Statesboro, American Legion Post 90 is teaming with the Averitt Center for the Arts and Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens for a community Veterans Day event at the Averitt Center. The event will include live music, as well as remarks from retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Randall V. Simmons Jr., who deployed to Afghanistan twice and Iraq once during his 34-year career. Following the program, Post 90 will host a free picnic lunch.
Indiana
· In Brookville, Bernard Hurst Post 77 is hosting a Veteran's Day breakfast, which will be followed by a program and then the unveiling of a veterans memorial that the post has fundraised to create.
· In North Webster, American Legion Post 253’s honor guard provide a Tour of Honor to local cemeteries to provide remembrance ceremonies. The post also is hosting a soup meal that is free to all veterans, while Auxiliary Unit 253 will be providing raffles and gifts.
· In Chesterfield, American Legion Post 408 is providing a free veterans breakfast on Nov. 8.
· In Spencer, American Legion Post 285 is serving a Veterans Day breakfast that is free to veterans, their families and the public. There will be a ceremony following the breakfast at the E. M. Viquesney Doughboy statue on the Courthouse Square.
Minnesota
In St. Paul, Arcade Phalen Post 577 is hosting a free pancake breakfast for veterans, active-duty military, National Guardsmen and reservists.
Mississippi
In Picayune, American Legion Post 73 will conduct a wreath-laying ceremony and veteran appreciation lunch before teaming with the city and Veterans of Foreign Wars for a Veterans Day parade. The parade will include vintage cars, military vehicles, marching bands, dance teams and community groups.
Nebraska
In Omaha, Benson Sons of The American Legion Squadron 112 is providing free meals to veterans dining at the Keystone Kafe.
North Carolina
In Apex, American Legion Post 124 is coordinating a Veterans Day ceremony at the Downtown Service Memorial.
Ohio
In Loudonville, American Legion Post 257 is hosting a free Veterans Day Appreciation Dinner to all local veterans. And for those veterans who are unable to attend the dinner, the post will deliver meals.
Pennsylvania
In Unity Township. Post 982 will host a ceremony that will be followed by a luncheon provided by Unit and Squadron 982.
Tennessee
· In Lauderdale County, American Legion Post 86 is one of the organizers for the Veterans Day Celebration that includes coffee and doughnuts, a parade, and a program at First United Methodist Church. A luncheon will follow at the church.
· In Cannon County, Hilton Stone American Legion Post 279 will conduct a Veterans Day program at Cannon County High School that will include state representative and senators, local politicians and the post’s 2025 Boys State and Girls State delegates. Awards also are presented to the Cannon County High School class presidents and the student council members, as well as to the top three finishers in the post’s Patriotic Essay, Patriotic Poem, Patriotic Art and Program Cover competitions. Following the program is a Veterans Day parade through Woodbury. The parade normally draws between 500 and 600 participants, with several thousand observing it. Prior to the parade, the post will host a Vietnam War commemoration ceremony at Cannon County Middle School and then a lunch for the honorees and their families.
Washington
In Winlock, Buford Rockafellow American Legion Post 101 has a busy stretch of days scheduled. The post is hosting Veterans Day "At The Wall of Honor" at Kemp Olson Park in Toledo. The event is preceded by the "March of Honor" led by Scouts that Post 101 sponsors. The program itself includes tributes to veterans through music, poetry and speeches. The ceremony also honors POWs and MIAs, including local resident Melvin Holland, who served in the U.S. Air Force and whose remains are still in Laos.
Prior to that, on Nov. 7, Post 101 will be presenting programs recognizing local veterans and their family members at area schools. And on Nov. 10, members of the post will provide similar programs to schools in Toledo.
Wisconsin
In Sparta, American Legion Post 100 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2112 are sponsoring multiple Veterans Day event. Both post’s honor guards will perform ceremonies at local schools in the morning and then gather for a ceremony at Blyton Park.
Following the ceremony, Post 100 will perform a flag disposal ceremony and provide a free lunch to all veterans.
- Veterans Day