Published: November 11, 2021
Communities across the country pull out all the stops to honor their veterans through a variety of programs and events. With world events impacting the ability to gather in person, many parades or events have been canceled or modified to a virtual format for 2021. Check out the list below to find out how and where you can celebrate Veterans Day in 2021. Events are in-person unless otherwise noted.
Celebrate Veterans Day by attending an event near you.
2021 Veterans Day Events:
Erie, Pennsylvania Veterans Day Parade
The Erie VA Medical Center will host its annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, November 6. The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Veterans Stadium on the corner of State and 26th Streets. Participants will meet on the French Street Side of the stadium no later than 9:00 a.m. The community is invited to attend as we pay tribute to local Veterans. Show your support in one of two ways: sign-up to march in the parade or show your support from the sidelines. To march in the parade, call Voluntary Service at 814-860-2454 or Barb Hudak, Parade Coordinator, at 207-217-1308.
Charleston, South Carolina Veterans Day Parade
The Charleson, South Carolina Veterans Day parade is a very special event that gives the community an opportunity to recognize America’s heroes – our veterans! The parade will start at Concord St. and Market St. and end at Colonial Lake. The parade will kick-off Nov. 6 at 11:52 a.m. with a speaker and the singing of the National Anthem, followed by a flyover and the parade start at noon. The parade has an estimated finish time of 1:30 p.m. If you are interested in participating in the parade, please call 843-789-7230 or email [email protected]
Cobb County, Georgia Women Veterans Honor Ceremony
The Department of Veterans Affairs, Georgia Department of Veteran Services, and Cobb County Government invite you to join them as they honor female veterans Nov. 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. Four female Veterans who served in the armed forces during WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will share their experiences and memories while serving. Also onsite will be: Veteran services providers; COVID-19 vaccination clinic (click here to register for vaccine services); Cobb County Animal Services Pet Adoption Trailer (adoption fee waived for Veterans). Doors open at 12:00pm EST and the event starts at 1:00pm EST. For questions, call 770-528-3318.
Denver, Colorado Veterans Day Festival
Colorado Veterans Project (CVP) is set to host its eighth annual Denver Veterans Day Festival in partnership with the city of Denver Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the 16th Street Mall, between California and Tremont. The Denver Veterans Day Festival will provide the opportunity for civilians, veterans and uniformed military to celebrate and commemorate U.S. service members. Formerly a parade, this year’s event will see a temporary change of format to a stationary festival. Admission is free and will feature marching bands, a variety of veterans organizations, military reenactments, an assortment of vintage and military-era vehicles, a kids’ area complete with entertainment and activities and more. A dedication ceremony for the Colorado Fallen Heroes Memorial will take place at Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park ahead of the festival.
Littleton, Colorado Veteran Storytelling and Suicide Awareness Event – Virtual option available
Mission Hills Church presents “Proximity: caring for those wounded by war,“ an evening of veteran storytelling to raise awareness of the issue of moral injury and to offer simple ways to care for those who are struggling with guilt and shame, which exacerbates PTSD symptomology and contributes to suicide. The event will be hosted in person at Mission Hills Church in Littleton, Colorado November 10 from 6 to 8 p.m. MST and live streaming online. Register on the Mission Hills website.
National Museum of the Pacific War Veterans Day Program — Virtual
A time to honor those who have served, our virtual Veterans Day Program this year is a moment to pay respect and show our support for the nation’s veterans. The event will be held on Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST. Our program features an introduction by General Michael Hagee, USMC (Ret), ANF president, and CEO followed by a speech from World War II veteran DG “Mac” McWilliams about his military experience in the Marine Corps. The National Anthem is performed by Boerne Middle School North. Other veterans will share their thoughts on Veterans Day. Fredericksburg Middle School will conclude the program with a medley of military anthems.
National Museum of the United States Army Veterans Day Program
The National Museum of the United States Army will mark Veterans Day and the first anniversary of its opening on November 11 starting at 9 a.m. Tributes at the Museum will include volunteers lining the Path of Remembrance with 389flags, “Thank a Veteran” card-making activity for families, history talk about Army veterans throughout history, special up-close look at Revolutionary War artifacts, and discounts at the Café and Museum Store. More details are available here.
National Veterans Day Observance
The Department of Veterans Affairs hosts the annual National Veterans Day Observance on Nov. 11 each year at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The VA and its partners, Arlington Cemetery and the Military District of Washington will live stream the event on Facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/VeteransAffairs.
New York Veterans Day Parade
The 102nd annual parade presented by the United War Veterans Council returns to NYC Nov. 11 to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the Global War on Terror and the 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm. The Parade is the largest Veterans Day event in the country. Find more information as well as a detailed schedule of events here.
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will host its annual Veteran’s Day event Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The expo will provide veterans with access to local vendors and services. The Hall of Fame will offer free Admission and parking to all U.S. service members, National Guard and veterans plus 1 guest (all day) as well as free admission for Blue Star mothers and Gold Star families. A free commemorative Veterans Day Pin will be available for the first 500 visitors to the Hall (while supplies last). A discount of 20% will be available at the HOF Store. And coffee and donuts will be available for all veterans. Find more details here.
Tomb of the Unknown Public Flower Laying
For the first time in nearly 100 years, and as part of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Centennial Commemoration, the public will be able to walk on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Plaza and lay flowers in front of the Tomb on Nov. 9 and 10. The flower ceremony will start at 8 a.m. Nov. 9 with representatives from the Crow Nation placing flowers at the Tomb. Registration is required at Eventbrite.com. No one will be turned away if they do not have a timed ticket; those without tickets may have a longer wait, however. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own flowers, but complimentary roses, gerbera daisies and sunflowers will be distributed. Learn more about the event.
Veterans Day Q&A With the VA
Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough will broadcast a pre-recorded Q&A using real questions from veterans, families, caregivers and survivors from 3 to 4 p.m., Nov. 11. To listen to this episode, please click on the VNN link Veteran News Network (VNN) – YouTube.
Vets Town Hall, New York City
Join Vets Town Hall at Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza, 55 Water St, New York, NY on Nov. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. to hear veterans talk about the experience of service. Vets Town Hall is a community forum aiming to increase communication and understanding between local veterans and the community at large. This event is non-political, and all perspectives are valued. There will be no question-and-answer period or debate on American foreign policy. Attendees will simply listen and learn about what it was like to serve in the wars that this nation has chosen to fight. Mark Otto, president and executive director for the United War Veterans Council and two-time combat veteran of the United States Marine Corp will serve as the evening’s emcee and will be joined by a number of veterans who will speak for up to ten minutes about what it was like to serve their country, including: Silver Star recipient Roger Sparks, Founder of Pathfinder Labs; Purple Heart recipient, Elana Duffy, and U.S. Marine Corps (Recon) veteran, Adam Levine. Sebastian Junger, Founder and Director of Vets Town Hall, will also be in attendance, as well as war veteran and entrepreneur, James Hendon. Other attendees include Gold Star spouse Sara Wilkinson, and GORUCK co-founder, Emily McCarthy.
Military.com
Veterans Day 2021 Parades, Events and More
November 11, 2021
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