Veterans Day is Saturday, November 11th, and is a day set aside to honor and thank all those who have served honorably in the U.S. military.
Note that the holiday name contains an “s” but no apostrophe. This is because this day is not a day that “belongs” to veterans, but rather a day to honor all veterans. Veterans Day is also not to be confused with Memorial Day, which is celebrated on the last Monday in May.
Memorial Day is a day to commemorate and commemorate military personnel who have died in the service of our country. Although the November holiday also commemorates those who have passed away, Veterans Day is primarily intended to recognize the service and sacrifice of active-duty veterans.
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day. This day was first commemorated at the end of World War I in 1918, when the Allied and German armies signed the armistice, that is, at 11 o’clock on November 11.
Congress passed an annual observance in 1926, and November 11 became a national holiday in 1938. Its name was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to honor those who served in subsequent wars and peacetime.
Celebrating Veterans Day in Oregon means thanking the more than 246,000 men and nearly 26,000 women across the state. According to the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, more than one-third of the state’s total veteran population served during the Vietnam era.
Here are some of the events happening in Lane County and the Willamette Valley.
Ceremony at the State Capitol on November 11th
ofOregon Department of Veterans Affairs A statewide Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, across from the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.
The celebration honors Oregon veterans from all eras and will be held at Oregon State Capitol Park on Court Street NE.
The ceremony will include greetings from dignitaries and special guests, as well as ceremonial elements such as the presentation of the color guard, the singing of the national anthem, the laying of flowers and the playing of “Taps.”
The keynote speaker will be Doug Graef, Gov. Tina Kotek’s wildfire and emergency response advisor.
The event is open to the public and has uncovered seating. Organizers are reminding participants to plan according to the weather. For those unable to attend, the event will be livestreamed on his ODVA Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/odvavet.
November 11th Luck Walk in Eugene
Veterans, family and friends will continue a tradition since 2018 with a “Ruck” walk through downtown Eugene in honor of all veterans on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 3 p.m.
Rack is a military term that means carrying a backpack with food. For the past five years, the event has drawn families and veterans.
Participants will meet at Skinner Butte Park on a large grassy area in front of the Veterans Memorial Wall.
For more information, please email Jessie Peterson at jpeterson@kw.com.
Veterans Day Parade in Florence
The annual Veterans Day Parade will once again take to the streets of Florence on Saturday at 1 p.m.
This year there will be a new route and the parade will stage at Florence Christian Church, 2nd Street and Ivy Street.
This year’s Grand Marshal is Jim Swant, who retired from the U.S. Air Force after a 20-year career.
The parade begins at 1 p.m. and winds its way through the historic Old Town, ending on 1st Avenue near the Siusław Port parking lot.
November 11th Albany Parade
The 72nd Annual Linn County Veterans Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 in Albany.
Thousands of spectators line the streets of downtown Albany for this event, so it’s important to have a place to stand or sit along the route. Organizers are calling it the largest Veterans Day parade west of the Mississippi River.
The 2023 parade will begin on Pacific Boulevard and proceed down the overpass ramp to downtown Lyon Street. From Lyon, turn left on Second Avenue to Ferry Street, then turn left again to the Linn County Courthouse.
A pre-parade memorial service will be held at 8:30 a.m. at Timber Lynn Memorial Park, 900 Price Rd SE.