Where to celebrate Veterans Day across Greater Fall River
Veterans Day is just around the corner, and Greater Fall River communities are gearing up for their annual salute to local veterans.
First recognized as Armistice Day in 1919, Veterans Day marks the date when Germany and the Allies signed a 1918 agreement to end World War I hostilities. The fighting ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In 1938, Congress passed a law to mark Nov. 11 as a legal holiday. In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a law that changed the name to its current form.
Today, Veterans Day celebrates all those who served honorably in the military, whether in war or peace, whereas Memorial Day is for remembering and honoring military personnel who died in the service of their country.
After some events were forced to be put on hold or tweaked last year due to COVID-19, cities and towns are coming back together this Nov. 11 to continue their tradition of honoring and thanking veterans for their service.
Here are some events and ceremonies planned across the Fall River area.
Fall River
Fall River kicks off its Veterans Day commemoration a bit early, with a wreath laying planned for Sunday, Nov. 7, at 11 a.m. in upper Kennedy Park, the site of two World War II memorials.
"We're doing it on Sunday to kick off Veterans Week because we know that some people don't have Veterans Day off," said Micaila Britto, director of veterans services for Fall River, noting that the holiday falls on a Thursday this year.
However, there will still be plenty going on the day of, Britto said.
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Fall River will pay tribute to local veterans on Thursday, Nov. 11, with the return of the city's annual parade.
Last year, the traditional parade was done a bit differently amid the pandemic, with the city instead opting to hold a socially distanced rolling motorcade around Fall River. This year, the parade is back to its familiar route, stepping off at 1 p.m. from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School on Stonehaven Road, proceeding down Bedford Street before ending at the Battleship Cove on Water Street.
The parade’s five divisions will lead off with Gold Star families, and heading up the parade will be the grand marshal Robert Viner, commander of the Fall River War Veterans Council.
They will be joined by elected and appointed officials, members of the Durfee ROTC program, local high school marching bands, the Fall River Young Marines, motorcycle clubs and other social and civic organizations.
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The Fall River Police Department's motorcycle unit and honor guard will be on hand, as well as city firefighters, whose ladder trucks and other safety vehicles will be featured in the parade. The Bristol County Sheriff’s Department will be participating as well as members of the Fall River War Veterans Council and various veterans groups.
"It's really important after all of this with the pandemic being able to bring the community together and have everyone in one place and celebrate our veterans," Britto said.
Following the parade, the Battleship Cove will host a Celebration of America with brief ceremony and speaking program featuring keynote speaker Col. John Atkinson, who is retired from the Marine Corps and now a professor at the Naval War College.
The event will also include live music by WolfGang performing songs of the 60s and 70s, DJ Chris with karaoke, and other fun activities for the whole family. Free hot chocolate and snacks will be available as well as a large selection of food and other vendors.
Battleship Cove and museum will be open and free to veterans on Nov. 11.
Britto said as a veterans officer everyday is Veterans Day and Memorial Day. But she looks forward to seeing other city residents join in paying their respects.
"I hope that everybody will come out and support the city and our veterans and let them know how important they are, especially our Iraqi and Afghan veterans so that they know that what they've done hasn't gone for naught," Britto said.
If you'd like to participate in the parade or as a vendor at the Battleship, or for more information on the event, contact Senior V. Commander Bill Desmarais from the Veterans’ Council at 508-951-6847 or Britto at 508-324-2438.
Somerset
After a year with no celebration, Veterans Day traditions are once again alive and well in Somerset.
On Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., town residents are invited to gather for a ceremony at the World War II monument in front of the Somerset Public Library. This will be followed by coffee and doughnuts inside the library, where pictures of all Somerset WWII veterans named on the monument are on display.
The Somerset Berkley Regional High School band is slated to perform. Veterans organizations, town officials and members of the local delegation - such as state Sen. Michael Rodrigues and state Rep. Patricia Haddad - are also invited to attend the event, which usually draws a couple of hundred people each year, said Heather Cheetham, Somerset veterans service officer.
Cheetham said they had attempted to organize a veterans car parade in 2020, which had to be canceled at the last minute due to COVID concerns.
"It's so good to get everybody back together and try to get things back to normal," she said.
Swansea
In Swansea, a ceremony will be held Thursday, Nov. 11, at 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Green, 101 Gardners Neck Road, that will include a traditional wreath-placing to honor past and current veterans.
The site of the annual event, sponsored by American Legion Post 303, VFW Post 2045 and the Swansea veterans office, is home to several memorials, including Vietnam War, Korean War, Desert Storm, WWI and WWII.
The event will feature a brief speaking program. Boy Scouts also help out, and will usually play "Taps" during the ceremony.
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"It's a nice event we do for the veterans commemorating Veterans Day," said Kevin Serpa, Swansea director of veterans services.
Junior high students also took part in an essay contest, submitting entries on "What Veterans Day Means to Me." Jamie Beane, veterans services assistant in Swansea, said they had great participation, receiving over a dozen essays to judge. The first-place winner is invited to read their essay at the Nov. 11 ceremony, and all students will receive citations and medals.
Ahead of the town's Nov. 11 ceremony, First Christian Congregational Church will hold its 14th annual Veterans Meat Pie Supper on Friday, Nov. 5.
All proceeds received for this donations-only supper are converted into food and service gift cards which Serpa distributes throughout the year to Swansea veterans and their families who are in need. The deadline for dinner reservations was Nov. 1.
Last year during the pandemic, many businesses and individuals were able to participate and helped to raise over $4,000. Donations are being accepted and should be sent to First Christian Congregational Church, 1113 GAR Highway, Swansea, MA 02777, with “Veterans” in the memo line.
Westport
This year, Westport will be honoring servicemen and women with events for all ages.
Westport's annual Veterans Day ceremony to honor all who have served in the United Stated Armed Forces returns to Beech Grove Cemetery on Thursday, Nov. 11. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m. at the flag pole at the cemetery, located at the corner of Main and Hixbridge roads.
Coffee and refreshments will follow at the Town Hall Annex Gym, 856 Main Road. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will also be held at the gym.
Young residents are also encouraged to get in on the celebration this year. The town is holding a writing contest for students in grades 9-12, who have been tasked with responding to the prompt, "What Veterans Day Means to Me."
Students should submit their entry to freitasc@westport-ma.gov no later than Nov. 3, along with a completed submission form that can be found at https://www.westport-ma.com/sites/g/files/vyhlif7356/f/uploads/veterans_day_writing_contest_submission_form.pdf. Entries should be no more than two typed pages and must be the student's original composition.
Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place. First place finalist will win $100 and their entry will be read at the Nov. 11 ceremony. Second and third place will receive $50 each and will also be recognized at the event.
Tiverton
Gather around the World War I Doughboy memorial at the town's Bicentennial Green near Grinnell's Beach on Thursday, Nov. 11, as the Tiverton Historical Society hosts its annual tribute to veterans.
The ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at the monument by the Old Stone Bridge. All veterans in attendance are encouraged to identify themselves and briefly explain their military service.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Veterans Day ceremonies in Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, Westport
