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We round up all the local parades, memorials, and commemorative ceremonies where you can honor Westchester’s armed forces this Veterans Day.
After a year of virtual and socially distant ceremonies, Westchester County celebrates Veterans Day this year with a bevy of in-person events from parades to services in every corner of the county. Here’s where you can attend and honor our nation’s armed service members in 2021.
Westchester County
The county’s official Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. on November 10 at Lasdon Park Arboretum and Veterans Memorial. County Executive George Latimer will be joined by Veterans Service Agency Director Ronald Tocci, and the entire ceremony will be livestreamed via the official county Facebook page.
Mamaroneck
American Legion Post 90 will host its annual Veterans Day observance beginning at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial (189 Prospect Ave). The ceremony will last about 30 minutes and include songs, prayers, greetings and remarks, and tributes, followed by light snacks back at the post.
Mount Pleasant
The Town of Mount Pleasant will host several Veterans Day events. At 10:45 a.m., the Thornwood American Legion will hold a memorial service at the flagpole next to the Chamber of Commerce Building, accompanied by local scout troops, followed by a reception at the Thornwood Firehouse.
At 11 a.m. in Valhalla, American Legion Post 1038 will hold a memorial ceremony, following a morning honor guard at the town monument, followed itself by a flag retirement ceremony. Hot dogs and beverages will be served.
At 2 p.m., join the members of Medal of Honor Post 112 in a salute to fallen heroes at the Medal of Honor monument outside Valhalla City Hall.
Veterans Day will also mark the beginning of taking down the Military Tribute Banners which have flown all year, honoring local military personnel. Families will be given the opportunity to keep their sponsored banners or fly them again next year.
New Rochelle
The New Rochelle Veteran Advisory Committee’s annual ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. in front of the Faneuil Park WWI memorial. Dedicated on December 11, 1921, this year will mark the memorial’s 100th anniversary!
Rye
Rye’s annual Veterans Day observance is back to in-person this year at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will be led by American Legion Post 128 Commander Fred de Barros, featuring short statements from Rye City Mayor Josh Cohn and Westchester County Executive George Latimer, as well as Assemblyman Steve Otis. The program will also include patriotic songs by Robin Latimer, an invocation by Rev. Deacon Katie Lawrence of Christ’s Church, and a talk from AL Auxiliarist Mary Ann Calbo.
Somers
The Town of Somers will also be back to live ceremony this year, as the Somers Lions Club hosts the return of the town’s Veterans Day Parade, starting at 10 a.m. A Model T will lead the pack with retired police chief and veteran Michael Driscoll, followed by local scout troops, Somers Leos, and more. The parade will leave from Somers Middle School and progress to the Veterans Memorial at Ivandell Cemetery, followed by a flag ceremony at 11 a.m. with light refreshments.
Fun Fact:
According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, “Veterans Day does not include an apostrophe but does include an ‘s’ at the end of ‘veterans’ because it is not a day that ‘belongs’ to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans.”
White Plains
The city’s annual ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m. on the steps of White Plains City Hall, and will include recollections and insights from a keynote speaker, comments by local patrons, the Pledge of Allegiance and poetry readings led by local scouts, and an honor guard comprised of WPPD and WPFD members. Light refreshments will be served afterward.
Yorktown
After last year’s innovative “reverse parade,” wherein veterans socially distanced along the parade route and civilians then drove past in decorated cars, this year things are going back to normal. Held on Sunday, November 14, all veterans and their immediate families are welcome to assemble at Lakeland High School’s main parking lot starting at 1 p.m., along with local scout groups and civic organizations. At 2 p.m., the parade will begin its procession down East Main St to the John C. Hart Memorial Library for remarks.