Here's what to know about Springfield's Veterans Day events and what's open or closed

The Veterans Day parade in Springfield will kick off at 11th Street and Capitol Avenue at 10 a.m. Saturday.

It will proceed down Capitol Avenue to the Illinois Capitol building.

Korean War veteran and Congressional Gold Medal recipient Ivan Maras of Rochester will serve as the parade's grand marshal.

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The parade is being put on by the Interveterans Council of Sangamon County in partnership with the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs, the Interveterans Burial Detail of Sangamon County and Navy Club Ship 32.

About 20 to 25 units are expected to take part in the parade, said organizer Phil Brown, a member of the Interveterans Council of Sangamon County and a retired U.S. Navy chief. The units include marching bands from Lanphier, Southeast and Springfield high schools.

"For me, the Veterans Day parade is like a family gathering," said Brown. "I really look forward to seeing my brother and sister veterans every year at the parade because in some cases it's the only time I see some of them (all year)."

During the Korean War, Maras was a member of the 65th Infantry Regiment, created by the U.S. Congress in 1898 as an all-Puerto Rican unit that would become known as "the Borinqueneers."

Later, the regiment became desegregated with non-Puerto Rican soldiers, like Maras, assigned to it.

Maras worked in the headquarters company. He taught basic reading, writing, and math to other Puerto Rican troops.

The Congressional Gold Medal, which Maras received with other members of "the Borinqueneers" in 2016 is the highest civilian award in the U.S., alongside the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It seeks to impart "the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals or institutions."

A documentary, "The Borinqueneers" details the regiment. Maras, 92, did an oral history of his service with Mark DePue of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

Maras later taught in School District 186 in Springfield and at schools in Kincaid and Edinburg. He retired in 1988.

Following the parade, there will be a reception with a lunch and program at Lafore Lock VFW Post 755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, at 11:30 a.m.

There will be remarks by Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher and Brown. The Springfield Municipal Band will provide entertainment.

LLCC ceremony

Lincoln Land Community College will honor its veterans at its 28th annual Veterans Day ceremony at the A. Lincoln Commons at 12:30 p.m. Friday.

The program will feature Jonathan Gebhardt, an LLCC student and retired senior airman, U.S. Air Force. LLCC Board of Trustees chair Gordon Gates will serve as master of ceremonies.

The ceremony is sponsored by the LLCC Student Life and honors veterans including LLCC faculty, staff and students.

UIS ceremony

The University of Illinois Springfield will hold a flag-lowering ceremony in front of the Public Affairs Center at 1:30 p.m. on Friday.

UIS Camerata student musicians will perform "Retreat," "To the Colors" and "The Star-Spangled Banner," with "Taps" as a final remembrance.

Following the ceremony, participants are invited for refreshments and a tour of the new Military and Veteran Resource Center in University Hall Room 1002 from 2 to 4 p.m.

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The Resource Center provides military-connected students a place to study, relax, grab a snack or drink, connect, and access computer workstations, among many additional support resources.

On Friday, students placed hundreds of yellow ribbons on campus trees to honor service members for Veterans Day. The ribbons were placed on trees along University Drive, Vachel Lindsay Drive and throughout the heart of campus.

The tradition started in 2012 and the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center now organizes student volunteers.

Take a free ride

Sangamon Mass Transit District is offering free rides on all fixed routes in honor of veterans Saturday.

SMTD is running regular schedules Friday and Saturday.

Free admission at ALPLM

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, active duty and veterans, will receive free admission to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, 212 N. Sixth St., Saturday with proof of military service.

A special "eternal flame" display dedicated to all branches of the military will be set up outside of the main entrance to the museum.

The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Chatham-Auburn VFW breakfast

The Chatham-Auburn Memorial VFW Post 4763, 214 W. Chestnut St. in Chatham, will host a free breakfast for veterans at 8 a.m. Saturday.

There will be pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, donuts, coffee, orange juice, milk and more.

Mayor's Veterans Day event at Post 809

The Mayor's Veterans Day Event, hosted by the Veterans’ Advisory Council, will take place at American Legion Post 809, 1800 E. Capitol Ave., at 5 p.m. Friday.

The program is designed to show appreciation to those who have dedicated their lives to defending freedom.

Mayor Misty Buscher will deliver remarks at 6 p.m.

The Lesters at First UMC

The Lesters will headline a concert of patriotic and gospel music at First United Methodist Church, 2941 S. Koke Mill Rd., at 6 p.m. Friday.

Veterans will be recognized at the event put on First UMC's Senior Ministry.

Dinner includes beef brisket, fondant potatoes, sides, dessert and a drink.

Tickets are $30. Call 217-793-9760, Ext. 111 for more information.

VFW Post 755 breakfast

The annual "Honor Breakfast, Salute to Veterans" will serve from 7 to 10 a.m. at VFW Post 755, 2211 Old Jacksonville Road, Springfield Saturday.

Gift bags will be given to all veterans, and donations are welcome to the VFW and Land of Lincoln Honor Flight.

Openings and closings

Veterans Day is a federal holiday meaning all federal buildings and courts will be closed Friday.

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, if a holiday falls on a Saturday, "for most federal employees the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes."

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All post offices will be closed and there will be no mail delivery Saturday.

State of Illinois, Sangamon County and city of Springfield workers will observe Friday as the holiday.

Lincoln Library will be closed on Saturday.

Springfield District 186 schools are closed Friday. There will be no classes at Midwest Technical Institute's Springfield campus.

UIS, LLLC, Lincoln Christian University and Blackburn College will all be in session Friday.

Sangamon Mass Transit District buses will run regular schedules on Friday and Saturday. Tourist sites in the area will also be open.

Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788; sspearie@sj-r.com; X, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: What to know about Springfield's Veterans Day parade, what's open, closed