A little history about Veterans Day…
Veteran’s day is not just a day you might get off of work (that’s if you get to), but a day of honoring past and present veterans that have risked their lives to serve our country. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, was declared between the Allied nations and Germany in the First World War, then known as “the Great War.” Commemorated as Armistice Day beginning the following year, November 11th became a legal federal holiday in the United States in 1938. In the aftermath of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day became Veterans Day, a holiday dedicated to American veterans of all wars. If you would like to celebrate this holiday and honor our veterans with a parade or get together, below is a schedule of some of Broward’s and Miami-Dade’s most popular events:
Boca Raton
Veterans Day ceremony, 9 a.m., Boca Raton Cemetery, 449 SW Fourth Ave. Event features comments by Mayor Susan Haynie, Boca Raton Community High School NJROTC, honor guard units and patriotic music by the Boca High School Band. Call 561-393-7748.
Veterans Day ceremony, 9:30 a.m., Veteran’s Park, 9400 W. Palmetto Park Road, west of Boca Raton. Procession of colors, guest speakers and patriotic music. Bring lawn chairs. Call Ralph 561-963-6755.
Veterans Day concert, 7 p.m., Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, on Federal Highway just south of Glades Road. Featuring The Florida Wind Symphony. Bring blankets and chairs. Food and beverages available for purchase. Free. Visit myboca.us or call 561-393-7073.
Veterans Memorial Park. Presented by the Boynton Veterans’ Council. Call 561-276-1796.
Coconut Creek
Veterans Day ceremony, hosted by the American Legion Post 170, 11 a.m. at Veterans Park, 3550 Lyons Road. Dignitaries, guest speakers, Coconut Creek Police Department Honor Guard and the Coconut Creek High School Jr. R.O.T.C. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Coconut Creek Recreation Complex, 4455 Sol Press Blvd. Call 954-545-6600.
Coral Springs
Veterans Day ceremony, 10:30 a.m. at Veterans Park, 8601 Royal Palm Blvd. Speeches, placing of a wreath, raising of military and United States flags, 21-gun salute. Call 954-345-2200.
Davie
Veterans Day Service, 10 a.m. at Temple Beth El Memorial Gardens, 4900 Old Griffin Road, Davie. Presentation of colors by Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, placing of flags at grave sites. Call 954-584-7151.
Veterans Day ceremony, 10 a.m. at Veterans Park, 5750 SW 39th St., Davie. Satellite parking and shuttle buses from Bergeron Rodeo Grounds. Call 954-797-1000.
Delray Beach
Veterans Day parade, 9:30 a.m., from Veterans Park, 802 NE First St., downtown Delray Beach, heading west to Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave. Presented by VFW 4141. 561-243-7190.
Veterans Day show, 7 p.m., Kings Point Theater, Kings Point, 7000 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Event celebrates the USO from its beginning through song and entertainment. Presented by The Kings Point Glee Club. New show. Free. Call 561-499-3335.
Fort Lauderdale
Veterans Day ceremony, by William C. Morris American Legion Post 36, 11 a.m. at Sandy Ninninger Statue at Riverwalk, Fort Lauderdale. Guest speaker Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler. Call 954-326-0800.
Hallandale Beach
Tribute to Veterans, 9:30 a.m. placement of flags at Hallandale Beach Cemetery, 801 NW Sixth Ave.; 10 a.m. coffee and veterans display at Cultural Community Center, 410 SE Third St.; 11 a.m. ceremony at Veterans Monument, 400 S. Federal Highway. Call 954-457-1452.
Hollywood
Veterans Barbecue, for Hollywood military personnel, veterans and their families, noon to 4 p.m. at Topeekeegee Yugnee Park, Corporate Pavilion #12, 3300 N. Park Road. Military ID required for barbecue and park entrance. Advance reservations appreciated. Call 954-921-3404.
Veterans Day Concert, with American Legion Symphonic Band, 7:30 to 9 p.m. at ArtsPark, 1 Young Circle, Hollywood. Limited bench seating. Bring blanket or lawn chair. Free admission. Call 954-483-9285.
Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
Veterans Day ceremony, 10 a.m. by the flagpole in front of Town Hall, 4501 N. Ocean Drive, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Honor guards from the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Volunteer Fire Department and Broward Sheriff’s Office, music by Patriot Brass Trio, keynote speaker Stephen Moss, U.S. Army veteran and founder of Mission United of Broward County. Call 954-640-4209.
Miami Beach
Miami Beach will hold the annual parade along Washington Avenue from 17 to 11 streets beginning at 11:11 a.m. There will be an exciting line up of floats, veteran marching bands and a high-flying all veterans parachute team that will come in for a landing at Flamingo Park for a wreath laying ceremony and free picnic.
Miramar
Veterans’ Day ceremony, 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, Southwest 64th Avenue and Southwest 33rd Street, Miramar. Guest speakers, patriotic music. Call 954-602-3319.
Pembroke Pines
Veterans Day ceremony, noon at City Center, 10300 Pines Blvd. Presentation of colors by the Pembroke Pines Police and Fire Department Honor Guard, guest speakers from the United States Military, music by the Pembroke Pines Charter School Central Campus Band. Call 954-435-6525.
Veterans Day Appreciation Bar-B-Q Luncheon, noon to 3 p.m at Southwest Focal Point Community Center, 301 NW 103rd Ave. Free for United States military veterans and their families. RSVP to 954-450-6888.
Sharing Stories of Service, 1 p.m. at Broward College, Judson A. Samuels South Campus, Student Activity Center, Building 68, 7200 Pines Blvd. Student veterans share their experiences and stories of what it means to be a veteran. Call 954-201-8997.
Plantation
Veterans Day Service, 9:30 a.m. at Plantation Veterans Park, 1776 Lauderdale West Drive. Call 954-452-2510.
Sunrise
Veterans Day ceremony, 10:30 a.m. at Sunrise Civic Center Amphitheater, 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd. Three-round volley, distinguished speakers, presentation of colors. Call 954-747-4600.