Travel, Food, and Fitness: Veteran’s Day Across the Country

Tuesday marks the annual Veterans Day holiday, tracing all the way back to the end of World War I, to honor former servicemen. We will highlight and provide links to several different celebrations happening around the country tomorrow afternoon. First, let’s take a look at the origins of this very significant Holiday.

National Veterans Day writes:

“While World War I officially ended with the Treaty of Versailles, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, until World War II required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history.

“In 1945, a World War II veteran from Birmingham, Alabama had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans…In 1954, President Eisenhower signed legislation formally establishing November 11th as Veterans Day.”

Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides an even more expansive history, including the laws passed and the biggest influencers.

Many major cities choose to hold parades and other events in celebration of Veterans Day, while numerous establishments offer free business to both former and current armed forces members. For instance, Birmingham, Alabama is holding a parade starting at 1:30 P.M. local time on 18^th St. and 8^th Ave N. Meanwhile, New York City boasts the largest Veterans Day Event in the country with the 2014 America’s Parade. This event features 600,000+ parade spectators in the heart, television broadcast to nine of the top markets in America, and 100,000 copies of the Commemorative Newspaper and Resource Guide to be distributed.

Photo courtesy of Party Earth

Moving to the southwest, the National Veterans Day Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs selected Dallas as a Regional Site for Veterans Day observance. A parade will also be held there tomorrow as well. On the west coast, the San Fernando Valley will hold a parade in the city of Mission Hills starting at 11:11 A.M. local time. In the Midwest, Chicago will hold a Veterans Day Ceremony at Soldier Field beginning at 10 A.M. local time. Admission is free.

In addition to all of the wonderful festivities being held by these various cities, USA Today lists many free activities and service that veterans can look out for tomorrow. Among these are getting a free haircut, meal, ice cream cone, and game tokens.

Below are several photos capturing past Veterans Day ceremonies: