Veterans Day events on the SouthCoast
Veterans Day is approaching and there are numerous events around the SouthCoast to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces.
U.S. veterans represent less than 10% of the total adult population, with around 19 million veterans living in the U.S. Although first called Armistice Day, Veterans Day was established May 13, 1938, as a legal holiday, to be held on Nov. 11. It began after World War I to remember the “war to end all wars,” when on Nov. 11, 1918, an armistice occurred in Europe.
The United States is not the only country to celebrate Nov. 11 as the end of World War I; it is called Remembrance Day in Canada, Australia, France, and Belgium.
Here is a listing of events to honor Veterans Day and salute local veterans in the SouthCoast:
Acushnet
15th Annual Flag Raising Ceremony: Nov. 11, 9:45 to 10:30 a.m., Acushnet Veterans Memorial Park, Pope Park, 256 Main St., Acushnet. The town of Acushnet will be celebrating its annual flag-raising ceremony with a special two-service veteran recognition, wreath laying, music, and refreshments.
Dartmouth
Dignified Ceremony: Nov. 11, 11 a.m., Dartmouth Veterans Memorial Grove, 628 Dartmouth St., Dartmouth. The Veterans Office will be honoring Dartmouth veterans with a dignified ceremony. There will be an unveiling of the granite bench honoring the service and sacrifice of Dartmouth female veterans. The bench will sit alongside the existing six granite benches honoring the service of Dartmouth veterans during WWI, WWII, the Korean War, Vietnam, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as a bench honoring those killed and missing in action. Light refreshments are to be served afterward.
Fall River
Veterans Day Parade: Nov. 11, 1 p.m., in upper Kennedy Park, South Main Street, Fall River, at the site of two World War II memorials. Set up and staging begin at 11:30 a.m. with step-off at 1 p.m. The parade will end at Government Center.
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Fairhaven
Veterans Day Parade: Nov. 11, 10 a.m., Main Street from Benoit Square south to Fairhaven High School. The annual parade to honor all veterans is followed by a brief ceremony, including raising the “Big Flag” in front of Fairhaven High School. All veterans and other marching groups are welcome to line up at Benoit Square at 9:30 a.m. with the parade stepping off at 10. The parade is supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2892, Fairhaven Lions Club, and the Fairhaven Veterans Service Office. For more information, call Brad or Jane at 508-979-4023.
Marion
Veterans Day Ceremony: Nov. 11, 11 a.m., Old Landing Veteran’s Park on Front Street, Marion. Join the community to honor our veterans, the guest speaker is Marion resident Technical Sergeant Mandy Givens of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The Sippican School Band led by Hannah Moore will perform selections of patriotic music.
New Bedford
Veteran's Day Parade, Nov. 11, 11 a.m., at the intersection of Rockdale Avenue and Union Street (Buttonwood Park). The parade will march East on Union Street to County Street, turn left and head North on County Street to William Street, turn right onto William Street past City Hall and the reviewing stand which will be located on the right in front on the Library located at the intersection of Pleasant Street and William Street. The approximant address for the end of the parade is 613 Pleasant St. This year’s parade is being put together in a joint effort between the New Bedford Veterans’ Advisory Board, the City of New Bedford, as well as the New Bedford Veterans’ Services Department. A Veteran’s Day service will be held at the reviewing stand following the conclusion of the parade. Seating will be reserved near the reviewing stand for elderly veterans and veterans with disabilities. In the case of inclement weather, there will be a service at noon at the Fort Taber Community Center at Fort Taber Park, 1000A S. Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford.
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Swansea
Veterans Meat Pie Supper: Friday, Nov. 4, 4 to 7 p.m., First Christian Congregational Church of Swansea, 1113 G.A.R. Highway, Swansea. The 15th annual Veterans Meat Pie Supper is a donation-only event with funds received benefiting Swansea Veterans and their families in need. This meal consists of meat pie, potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls, and dessert.
Veterans Day Ceremony: Nov. 11, 10 a.m., Swansea Veterans' Memorial Green, 101 Gardners Neck Road, Swansea. All are welcome to join at the Veterans Memorial Green to pay tribute to all Veterans. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the American Legion Post 303 on Ocean Grove Ave. A traditional wreath placing and Color Guard will be followed by presentations, along with the winning essay from "What Veterans Day means to me" done at Case Junior High School.
Tiverton
Veterans Day Tribute: Nov. 11, 11 a.m., Tiverton Bicentennial Green, 1847 Main Road, Tiverton. The Tiverton Historical Society hosts its annual tribute to veterans at the WWI Doughboy memorial statue on the Tiverton Bicentennial Green by the old Stone Bridge next to Grinnell’s Beach.
Westport
Rucking For Veterans: Nov. 11, 7 a.m., the Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery, 417 Hixbridge Road, Westport. Rucking for Veterans is a group of veterans and civilians whose purpose is to bring awareness to and advocate for the prevention of Veteran Suicide. They ruck 22 miles in honor and in memory of our fallen service members while carrying the names of fallen comrades on yellow remembrance ribbons. For more event details and to register or donate towards this event go to http://www.ruckingforveterans.com/events.
Veterans Day Ceremony: Nov. 11, 10 a.m., 974 Main Road, Westport. The ceremony will take place at the newly constructed Veterans Monument in the Veterans section of Beech Grove Cemetery. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Town Hall Annex Gym. Any decision to move the ceremony will be made by Thursday, Nov. 10, and will be posted on the home page of the Veterans Services website https://www.westport-ma.com/veterans-services.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: SouthCoast veterans honored in local Veterans Day ceremonies
