Holiday Hours: Veterans Day| 09:01AM / Tuesday, November 07, 2023 | |
U.S. Veterans Affairs
An image of the 353rd Infantry in France taken two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect.
Veterans Day falls on Saturday, Nov. 11, and will also be observed Friday, Nov. 10, as a state and federal holiday.
The federal holiday is to commemorate the service of the nation's military veterans in ensuring peace.
It was first known as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I at the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. In recognition of the efforts of World War II veterans, President Eisenhower in 1954 signed legislation creating Veterans Day with the goal of honoring all American veterans.
The Veterans Day National Committee choses a commemorative poster each year (as seen above) from submitted artwork. The theme of this year's poster is "Honor."
Closed on Friday, Nov. 10 & Saturday, Nov. 11:
Some federal and local offices
Some public schools
BRTA buses routes are not running, offices closed; service resumes on Sunday, Nov. 12.
Public libraries
Open:
Most retail outlets, groceries
Restaurants and bars, by choice
Convenience stores
Veterans Day Parades, Ceremonies and Other Celebrations
Pittsfield: The annual Veterans Day ceremony will begin with a parade that steps off from Allen Street on Friday, Nov. 10, and concludes at Veterans Memorial Park on South Street.
Lineup will take place 9:30-9:45 a.m. on Fenn, Pearl and Allen streets, departing from City Hall at 10 a.m.
The ceremony at the memorial will include opening remarks from Mayor Linda Tyer, followed by keynote speaker James Clark, the city's director of Veterans Services and Council on Aging; officer of the day is Tyrone Belanger of the Vietnam Veterans of America, James E Callahan Chapter 65. The event will also recognize the Berkshire Veterans Coalition's Veteran of the Year Michael Bradley.
Pittsfield Community Television will televise the parade and ceremony on CityLink 1303, PCTV Select available at pittsfieldtv.org and its Facebook page.
North Adams: The Veterans Day parade steps off from American Legion Post 125 on American Legion Drive at 10:40 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, and marches to the Veterans Memorial on Eagle Street. Participants are asked to arrive at the Legion by 10 a.m.; doughnuts and coffee will be available beginning at 9:30. All veterans and veterans groups are welcome to march.
The keynote speaker will be Brett Lefebvre, chief, North Adams Fire Department; Mayor Jennifer Macksey will also offer remarks and the master of ceremonies will be past District One/Post 125 Cmdr. Dennis St Pierre. The Rev. David Anderson of First Baptist Church will give the opening and closing prayers; VFW Cmdr. Edward Briscoe and past District 1 American Legion Cmdr. Sylvia Lefebvre will place the wreaths; Noah Wilhelm and Kaylee Lescarbeau will play taps, and the Drury High School band will play a number of patriotic tunes.
Joseph Poplaski and the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 125 will be handing out flags for the ceremony.
Lenox: Retired Brig. Gen. Marie T. Field was the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in the Massachusetts Air National Guard. She will talk about her experiences on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. with local history librarian Amy Lafave. The Veterans Day talk will also tie the threads between Field, the latest Lenox general, and John Paterson, the first Lenox general, with a nod to Lt. George E. Turnure, in whose memory the Lenox Community Center building was built. The talk takes place in the Town Hall Auditorium.
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