Several events are scheduled across the region to honor those who have served and fought for our country.
Veterans Day ceremonies held across Southern New England on Tuesday, November 11 include:
BRISTOL
Rhode Island Veterans Home Chapel
The Bristol Veterans Council and Department of Human Services Program will hold a wreath laying at the Honor Roll Garden next to the Burnside Building on Hope Street at 8:30 a.m.
A memorial service will be held at the Rhode Island Veterans Home Chapel located at 480 Metacom Ave at 10 a.m. Official ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. under a tent at the outside patio area of the North Building of the home with keynote speaker Capt. Dennis Boyer, commander, Naval Station Newport.
Lunch will be served in the main dining room after ceremonies.
CENTRAL FALLS
Ceremony at Dexter and Cross Streets
Central Falls City officials and local veterans organizations will gather at Dexter and Cross Streets to honor the memory and ultimate sacrifice of Army Specialist William Thomas Cavanaugh, a Central Falls native and the first Rhode Islander to be killed in action in Vietnam 50 years ago.
The ceremony will take place at the site where a plaque in memory of Cavanaugh was affixed to a utility pole years ago. Officials plan to lay a wreath at the site and re-dedicate the plaque. Mayor James Diossa has been invited to take part in the re-dedication and City Council President Bob Ferri will read a proclamation from the council.
CRANSTON
Park View Veterans Day 5k Run/Walk
The Park View Veterans Day 5k Run/Walk and One-Mile Kids Run will take place at Roger Williams Park at the Park Avenue entrance. Race day registration and pickup begins at 7 a.m. Kids Run begins at 8:30 a.m. Proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and Park View Middle School programs.
CUMBERLAND
Veterans’ Council Ceremony
The Veterans’ Council Ceremony will be held at the Monastery Grounds on Diamond Hill Road at 11 a.m. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony at Post 14, 695 Broad St.
EAST GREENWICH
Veterans Day Parade
The parade steps off at 10 a.m. from Academy Field to First Avenue (Route 401) for a wreath laying at the World War II Memorial on the corner of Cliff Street, then proceeds north on Main Street to the town hall for ceremonies to conclude at 11 a.m.
The parade will be led by the “Lone Piper” Aaron Lindo and grand marshal Bruce C. MacGunnigle and features local militia groups such as the Kentish Guards and Continentals, the Rhode Island Shriners, the Nightline Marching Band, Blue Knights Law Enforcement motor group, and local fire companies.
EXETER
Ceremony at Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery
A ceremony will be held at Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery located at 301 South County Trail. The ceremony begins at 8 a.m. with the U.S. Army Special Forces Association and Rhode Island Chapter 48. Breakfast will be served afterwards at Richard’s Pub, 3347 South County Trail.
Armenian American Veterans Memorial Service
A ceremony honoring World War II veteran Harry Kizirian, former postmaster of Providence’s main post office, will be held at 10 a.m.
FOSTER
Foster Memorial Post 101 Observance
The Foster Memorial Post 101 Observance will be held at the Eddy Building on South Killingly Road at 11 a.m.
NORTH KINGSTOWN
Veterans Day Parade
Parade steps off at 10 a.m from Wilson Park, Wickford. Route starts on West Main Street to Brown Street through Wickford Village to Boston Neck Road and on to Fairway Drive for concluding ceremonies at North Kingstown High School at 11 a.m. Parade stops for wreath-laying ceremonies at the monuments at Town Hall and Veterans Memorial Park.
Women Warriors Luncheon Fundraiser
The event will be held at Quidnessett Country Club located at 950 North Quidnessett Rd. Living history luncheon is set to honor outstanding women veterans.
A three-person female warrior panel and keynote speakers will discuss their stories of leadership and service from 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Proceeds to benefit Operation Stand Down Rhode Island’s Cpl. Holly Charette Home, a transitional dwelling for homeless female veterans. Marine Cpl. Charette, a Cranston native, lost her life on June 23, 2005, when her convoy was struck by a suicide bomber in Iraq, and is Rhode Island’s first female soldier killed in Iraq.
PAWTUCKET
Ceremony and Wreath Laying
A ceremony and wreath laying will be held at Veterans’ Memorial Park near Roosevelt Avenue and Exchange Street at 11 a.m.
PORTSMOUTH
Veterans Day Ceremony
The ceremony will he held at the Portsmouth High School Auditorium at 120 Education Lane at 9 a.m.
The celebration with emphasis on Vietnam-era veterans is presented by Project Blue Star coordinator Carolyn Evans-Carbery, VFW Post 5390 and American Legion Post 18 and their auxiliaries. This year’s “Welcome Home” ceremony features a flag line; musical performances; guest speaker Mackubin Thomas Owens, a Marine veteran of Vietnam who is a professor of national security affairs at the Naval War College and editor of Orbis, the journal of the Foreign Policy Research Institute; and a presentation of a proclamation, ball cap and bracelet to honorees.
After the ceremony, there will be a wreath laying at the Sisson Memorial, adjacent to the ball field, and drumming by the Aquidneck Island Intertribal Indian Council.
PROVIDENCE
Diocese of Providence to Ring Church Bells
Parishes in the diocese have been requested to ring church bells on Veterans Day at 11:00 a.m. to honor our veterans.
Wreath Laying Ceremony
A wreath laying ceremony will be held at the Brown University College Green at Brown and George streets. The wreath laying will be followed by addresses from members of the Brown and Rhode Island communities at the Soldier’s Arch on the Ruth J. Simmons Quad. Speakers include Sen. Jack Reed, Ted Lowe, the Rev. Janet Cooper Nelson and Brown student veterans.
Memorial Services
American Legion Armstrong-Gladding Post 69 will hold memorial services at Grace Church Cemetery located at Broad Street and Elmwood Avenue at 9:30 a.m.
McGeary Littlejohn Memorial Service
The service will be held at the Urban League Complex located at 250 Prairie Ave at 11 a.m.
SCITUATE
Scituate Post 19 Parade
The parade will form at 10 a.m. at Berkander Field and Institute Lane and steps off at 10:30 a.m. from Institute Lane and Danielson Pike. The parade will proceed west on Danielson Pike, to Silk Lane, to West Greenville Road, to the steps of the Old Historical Congregational Church for ceremonies.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN
Parade sponsored by American Legion Post 39 and VFW Washington County Post 916
The parade steps off at 10 a.m. at Holly Street and turns onto Main Street, then to High Street, and ends at Saugatucket Park, where a memorial ceremony will be held at 11 a.m.
WEST WARWICK
Observance
An observance will be held at Veterans Memorial Park located at 2 Legion Way, with guest speaker Capt. Alan Abramson, at 9:30 a.m
WOONSOCKET
Dedication of the city’s new Veterans Park
A dedication of the city’s new Veterans Park will begin at 9 a.m.
FALL RIVER
Dedication of the John Lynch Memorial Bench
Dedication of the “John Lynch Memorial Bench” will be held at Lower Kennedy Park on Middle Street, the block in between South Beach and South Almond streets at noon.
Memorial Ceremony
A memorial ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial Monument in upper Kennedy Park on South Main Street, across from St. Anne’s Church at 1:30 p.m.
Veterans Day Parade
At 2 p.m. the Veterans Day Parade will step off from upper Kennedy Park, South Main Street and Bradford Avenue, and at parade’s end, the final ceremonies will take place inside the Municipal Veterans Memorial, 72 Bank St.
Memorial Service
At 4 p.m. the public is invited to join the City of Fall River and the Lance Cpl. John J. Van Gyzen Marine Corps League as they conduct a memorial service to honor and remember all veterans who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The ceremony will take place at the Iwo Jima Monument, in Bicentennial Park, 1082 Davol St.
NEW BEDFORD
Veterans Day Parade
All New Bedford area residents are invited to attend the city’s 2014 Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m.
The 2014 New Bedford parade is presented by the Greater New Bedford Veterans Council, New Bedford Veterans Advisory Board Veterans Day Parade Committee. Parade participants will gather at the intersection of Rockdale Avenue and Union Street at 10:30 a.m. and the parade will step off at 11 a.m. The parade will march East on Union Street to Pleasant Street, then turn left onto Pleasant Street to the reviewing stand in front of the New Bedford Main Library.
A Veterans Day service will be held at the reviewing stand at the conclusion of the parade, and all participants and parade attendees are encouraged to attend the service.
NORTH ATTLEBORO
Veterans Day Breakfast
A Veterans Day breakfast will be held at the Bristol Lodge at 46 South Washington Street from 8:30-1030 a.m. The breakfast is free for local veterans and hosted by the Capt. Kyle R. Van De Giesen Memorial Award Fund.
Re-dedication Ceremony
A re-dedication ceremony will be held at the corner of Elm Street and Route 1 to commemorate the town’s Gold Star families. A bus will provide transportation for those who require assistance from Barrows Park to the dedication site.