Here's how you can celebrate Veterans Day at Brockton-area events
BROCKTON — Veterans Day is observed annually on Nov. 11. It's a holiday honoring people who have served in the U.S. armed forces, on the anniversary of the end of World War I.
Veterans Day is an opportunity for other people to take an extra moment to show military members gratitude for their sacrifice and honor them by placing flowers and flags on graves and by watching or participating in parades.
The East Bridgewater Kiwanis Club made a "Field of Flags" on the Town Common to honor our country’s veterans.
Brockton will honor our veterans with a parade and ceremony on Friday.
West Bridgewater is hosting the Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade of the Bridgewaters. The theme is "200 Years of Honoring our Veterans." Trophies will be awarded for best marching unit, best float/theme and judges' choice.
The town of Stoughton will hold three dedications after the collation for Rudolph "Rudy" Medeiros, Edward B. Podgurski and Joseph M. Callanan.
Here is a list of Veterans Day events in local cities and towns.
ABINGTON
The Whitman, Abington and Rockland Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in Whitman. The parade will begin near the Old Regal Shoe Factory on South Avenue and will travel on South Avenue toward Whitman Center. The procession will turn left onto Washington Street at the four-way stop. The parade then turns right onto School Street.
BRIDGEWATER
The Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade for West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and Bridgewater will begin at 9:45 a.m. Friday in West Bridgewater. Marching units will assemble at 9 a.m. on Stepping Stone Lane. Parade will step off at 9:45 a.m. and there will be no stopping except for a traffic situation or emergency. Exercises will follow at the end of the parade at the Town Gazebo next to Town Hall, 65 North Main St., West Bridgewater. Collation will follow at St. Ann’s Parish Center next to Town Hall.
BROCKTON
Parade will form at War Memorial at 9:30 a.m. and start at 10 a.m. on Friday. The parade route will leave from West Elm Street, south on Newbury Street, east on Belmont Street, north on Main Street, east on Crescent Street and north onto Legion Parkway ending at the City Hall Amphitheater, 45 School St. A ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. in the Amphitheater. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled and a ceremony will be held inside the auditorium of the War Memorial Building.
EAST BRIDGEWATER
The Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade for West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and Bridgewater will begin at 9:45 a.m. Friday in West Bridgewater. Marching units will assemble at 9 a.m. on Stepping Stone Lane. Parade will step off at 9:45 a.m., and there will be no stopping except for a traffic situation or emergency. Exercises will follow at the end of the parade at the Town Gazebo next to Town Hall, 65 North Main St., West Bridgewater. Collation will follow at St. Ann’s Parish Center next to Town Hall.
EASTON
The Veterans Day Parade will form at the Main Street Post Office by 10:30 a.m. on Friday. Parade will step off at 11 a.m. on and march down Main Street, stopping at the Word War I monument for a brief ceremony. The parade reforms to march down Sullivan Ave, ending with a ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. There will be a reception at the VFW Post 2547 at 61 Rockland St. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at noon at the VFW Hall.
HALIFAX
The annual Veteran’s Day celebration will be at 11 a.m. Friday on the front steps of the Town Hall. Halifax will formally be recognized as a “Purple Heart Town” and have words from the director of Veterans Services Steve Littlefield and State Representative Kathy LaNatra. Pending inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Great Hall on the second floor of Town Hall.
MIDDLEBORO
The Veterans Day ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. Friday in the Middleboro Town Hall Auditorium.
RANDOLPH
A Veterans Council breakfast will be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday with and speakers program at the Elks Lodge, 21 School St. Tickets are $10 for the breakfast and are available at Randolph Veterans Services office and at the door (seating is limited to 100). At 10:45 a.m., veterans and color guards will form up and march to Randolph War Memorial, Crawford Square. At 11 a.m., the Randolph Veterans Council will conduct a brief ceremony and a wreath laying at the Randolph War Memorial, Crawford Square. Guest speaker will be Lt. Col. Patrick McCarthy Jr., former commander of 7th Military Information Support Battalion, 4th Military Information Support and presently at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
ROCKLAND
The Whitman, Abington and Rockland Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in Whitman. The parade will begin near the Old Regal Shoe Factory on South Avenue and will travel on South Avenue toward Whitman Center. The procession will turn left onto Washington Street at the four-way stop. The parade then turns right onto School Street.
STOUGHTON
The Veterans Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Friday forming at VFW Post 1645 on Washington Street at 9:30 a.m. The parade route goes down Washington, School and Pearl streets to town hall. A ceremony and wreath laying will take place at the Memorial Bell. The parade will then form again on Pearl Street and proceed back through the square to Faxon Veterans’ Memorial Park for two memorials. The parade will then proceed on Walnut Street to Washington Street and go back to the VFW. A collation will follow the parade at 11:45 a.m. at the VFW at 837 Washington St. Dedications will be held for Rudolph "Rudy" Medeiros at 1 p.m. on Morton St. at Washington Street, Edward B. Podgurski at 1:45 p.m. on Island Street at Central Street, and Joseph M. Callanan at 2:30 p.m. on West Street at School Street.
WEST BRIDGEWATER
The Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade for West Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and Bridgewater will begin at 9:45 a.m. Friday in West Bridgewater. Marching units will assemble at 9 a.m. on Stepping Stone Lane. Parade will step off at 9:45 a.m., and there will be no stopping except for a traffic situation or emergency. Exercises will follow at the end of the parade at the Town Gazebo next to Town Hall, 65 North Main St., West Bridgewater. Collation will follow at St. Ann’s Parish Center.
WHITMAN
The Whitman, Abington and Rockland Tri-Town Veterans Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. Friday in Whitman. The parade will begin near the Old Regal Shoe Factory on South Avenue and will travel on South Avenue toward Whitman Center. The procession will turn left onto Washington Street at the four-way stop. The parade then turns right onto School Street.
Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Veterans Day 2022: Events, parades, memorials in the Brockton area
