Veterans Day events abound around Military City USA

  • Published
  • By Robert Goetz
  • 502d Air Base Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas --  

More than 100 years have passed since an armistice unofficially ended World War I, a conflict of a scale unlike any other in recorded history.

What quickly became known as “the war to end all wars” had its hostilities cease between the Allied nations and Germany on the 11th hour of the 11th month of 1918.

In 1919, commemoration of that cease-fire proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson still resonates throughout the United States with events that pay tribute to everyone who served honorably.

The 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, known as Veterans Day since 1954, will be observed in the San Antonio area with activities ranging from a drill team competition and parade to a band concert and naturalization ceremony.

The U.S. Military Veterans Parade Association begins a day’s worth of events at Alamo Plaza Nov. 9 in downtown San Antonio with a Junior ROTC drill team competition at 8:30 a.m. A wreath ceremony honoring veterans living and dead follows at 10 a.m. and the association’s 20th anniversary Veterans Parade steps off at noon beginning on Avenue E. The association will also stage a festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Milam Park that will celebrate veterans.

The U.S. Air Force Band of the West Concert Band’s “Salute to Veterans” is set for 3-5 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Edgewood Theatre of Performing Arts, 402 Lance St. Free and open to the public, the program honors the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the nation’s World War II heroes.

Veterans Day at the Alamo, 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 11, will feature firing demonstrations, living history, and free tours and giveaways for all veterans and current military members.

Brig. Gen. Laura L. Lenderman, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio commander, will be the keynote speaker for the city of Schertz’ Veterans Day Memorial Ceremony from 9-10 a.m. Nov. 11 at Veterans Memorial Plaza, 512 Schertz Parkway.

The Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery Veterans Day Ceremony will be 9:30-11 a.m. Nov. 11. The event includes a musical prelude and a naturalization ceremony for those military members becoming U.S. citizens.

Brig. Gen. James Moore, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Installation Management Command chief of staff, will speak during the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers Veterans Day Commemorative Ceremony from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at the San Antonio National Cemetery, 517 Paso Hondo St. The ceremony will also feature the reading of a memorial list, military honors and taps, and a benediction.

The Buffalo Soldiers preserve the memory of the former slaves, freedmen and black Civil War veterans whose Army regiments were charged with restoring order in the West after the Civil War.