Here's how RI is commemorating Veterans Day

Barrington is honoring veterans all the way back to the Revolutionary War with lamppost banners on town streets, while East Greenwich plans a parade featuring historic militia groups and a Rhode Island National Guard flyover.

Towns, cities, schools and organizations across Rhode Island are marking Veterans Day on Friday with a variety of events, including ceremonies, speeches, parades and meals.

Barrington's tribute honors the 56 town veterans who died while serving their country. Banners carrying their names were put on lampposts on County Road and Maple Avenue in late October. The earliest names are four soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary War, Ebenezer Adams, Winchester Bicknell, Benjamin Medbury, and Samuel Viall, according to the town's website.

The most recent name is Jeffrey Scharver, a Barrington High School graduate and Marine helicopter pilot whose Cobra was shot down during a rescue of fellow wounded Marine pilots during the Grenada conflict in 1983, according to the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame. Scharver, 25 when he was killed, is being inducted into the Hall of Fame later this month.

"We just thought it would be a nice opportunity for us to recognize the sons of Barrington who made the ultimate sacrifice," said Paul Dulchinos, president of the Barrington United Veterans Council, which pulled together the banner project and is also holding a Veterans Day ceremony Friday.

The banners will stay in place through November. Check out the town's website for a full list of the names.

Across Narragansett Bay, East Greenwich "prides itself on being one of only a handful of Rhode Island communities to continue to sponsor this parade, honoring Veterans of all wars, especially those who have given their last full measure of devotion," the town said in announcing its annual parade.

The parade will feature the "always resplendent local historic militia groups the Kentish Guards and Varnum Continentals" as well as police and fire honor guards, marching bands and the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. "The re-designed Tomb of the Unknown Soldier replica float is returning to pay homage to all thesacrifices made by our fallen heroes," the town says.

The parade will start at 10 a.m. Friday from Academy Field and "wind through the historic district" viaMawney Street and continue east on First Avenue (Route 401) for a wreath-laying ceremony near the World War II Memorial on the corner of Cliff Street. It will then go north on Main Street to the town hall for closing ceremonies around 11 a.m. Weather permitting, the closing ceremonies will include a flyover by the 143rd Airlift Wing, Rhode Island National Guard, out of Quonset Point.

Here's a listing of other Veterans Day events:

Providence: At noon Friday, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and U.S. Undersecretary of Defense Gil Cisneros will speak at a ceremony at Brown University's Ruth J. Simmons Quadrangle. The event will feature ROTC commissioning ceremonies for students from participating branches of the military and remarks from student-veterans enrolled at Brown.

Barrington: At 11 a.m. Friday, the Barrington United Veterans Council will hold its annual ceremony at Victory Gate, Barrington High School. The ceremony will include raising of the American flag, performances of the "National Anthem" and "Taps," as well as a wreath-laying and a ceremonial reading of the names of Barrington's war dead.

Bristol: At 11 a.m. Friday, the Bristol Veterans Council will hold a ceremony at the Bristol Veterans Memorial Garden, adjacent to the Burnside Memorial Building at 400 Hope St. A collation will follow.

Bristol: At 2 p.m. Friday, Gov. Dan McKee will offer greetings and Maj. General Christopher Callahan, adjutant general of Rhode Island, will be the keynote speaker for a ceremony that will be held at the Rhode Island Veterans Home, 480 Metacom Ave. The following guests are also expected to speak: Sen. Jack Reed, U.S. Reps. James Langevin and David Cicilline, Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, Attorney General Peter Neronha, Treasurer Seth Magaziner and Providence Regional VA Office Director Edward J. McQuade. Music will be provided by the Governor’s Own 88th Band from the Rhode Island National Guard.

Central Falls: At 10 a.m. Friday, the city will holds its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, 416 Hunt St. Light refreshments will be served.

Cranston: At 8:30 a.m. Friday, the 9th annual 2022 Park View Veterans Day 5K run/walk and 1 mile kids run will be at Roger Williams Park across from Park View Middle School, Park Avenue. The runs and walk will benefit programs at the school and Operation Stand Down Rhode Island. The kids run start at 8:30, followed by the 5Ks at 9:30.

Cranston: At 11:30 a.m. Friday, a parade "honoring all who served" will start in front of Legion Bowl on Park Avenue, proceed along Park Avenue past City Hall, to Hayward and down Rolfe Street to Cannon Memorial for a ceremony.

Cumberland: At 11 a.m. Friday, a Veterans Day observance ceremony will be held at the Cumberland Monastery, 1464 Diamond Hill Road. After the hour-long event, refreshments will be served at the American Legion Post #14, 695 Broad St.

East Providence: At 11 a.m. Friday, a ceremony will be held at Veterans Memorial Park, Squantum Woods.

Newport: (Corrected) The American Legion, Post No. 7, and the Newport Veterans of Foreign Wars, Conover-Leary Post No. 406, will hold a Veteran’s Day ceremony in front of Newport City Hall on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11a.m. The guest speaker will be Associate Professor Chris J. Kidd, Col., U.S. Army, Retired from the Naval War College, Joint Military Operations Department.

North Kingstown: At 9 a.m., a wreath-laying ceremony will be held at the Civil War Memorial, 80 Boston Neck Rd. At 10 a.m., a parade will start on West Main Road and Brown Street, through Wickford Village to Boston Neck Road and Fairway Drive.

Pawtucket: At 11 a.m. Friday, the Pawtucket Veterans Council, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, and the Pawtucket City Council will hold a ceremony "to honor the veterans of this great nation" at Pawtucket City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Ave. The ceremony will include the Tolman High School JROTC presenting the Color Guard along with Brandon Camara performing Taps. A collation will be held after the event at the Major Walter G. Gatchell VFW Post 306.

Warwick: At 9 a.m., the City will hold a citation and proclamation ceremony outside of City Hall.

Warwick: From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, free lunch for veterans at Operation Made, 1060 Toll Gate Rd., also music, drinks, raffles and free samples, sponsored by Operation Made and United Healthcare.

Westerly: At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the Westerly-Pawcatuck Veterans Day parade will begin at the Pawcatuck Shopping Center and proceed down Route 234 to West Broad Street into Westerly via High Street then onto Railroad Avenue, ending at the Westerly Armory, where there will be music and a guest speaker.

Woonsocket: At 11 a.m. Friday, the annual Veterans Day observance will be held at the United Veterans Armed Forces Park. Participants will include veterans organizations, city and state officials, the Woonsocket Police and Woonsocket Fire Department Honor Guards and the Woonsocket High School Band. Those planning to attend are advised to bring a chair since there's limited seating. If it rains, the event will be held at the Museum of Work & Culture, 42 South Main St.

(Correction: An earlier version of this report had the wrong information for Newport's ceremony.)

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Veterans Day: RI will honor veterans with ceremonies, parades