US towns hold Veterans Day ceremonies and close offices on Nov 11
The gist
Communities across the US mark Veterans Day on Nov 11 with parades, ceremonies and government closures.
The date traces to the 1918 armistice that ended World War I fighting.
How it unfolded
- 1918The armistice ended the fighting in World War I, with cessation of hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany effective at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
- 1919The annual November observance originated on the first anniversary of the 1918 armistice.
- Nov 10, 2026St. Ann's Academy students and staff hold a Veterans Day ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Hornell United Presbyterian Church, singing patriotic songs and presenting tributes to local veterans Joe Lisi, Bill Karns and Bill Congdon.
Key terms
- VFW
- A U.S. organization of war veterans who served in foreign wars, campaigns, and expeditions.
- Gold Star mother
- Families of U.S. military members who died during military operations, symbolized by a gold star on a service flag.
- American Legion
- A U.S. veterans' organization founded in 1919, made up of state and overseas departments and local posts.
Source: Wikipedia