Veterans Day In Alameda: How To Honor Military Personnel

ALAMEDA, CA — The post office and most banks will be closed in on Thursday in observance of Veterans Day, a federal holiday that honors veterans of the U.S. armed forces.

The USS Hornet will have a ceremony starting at 11 a.m. All veterans are allowed aboard the Hornet all day for free.

The USS Hornet is partnering with the Alameda County Veterans Council and the Walking Ghosts of Black History to bring you a Ceremony honoring our veterans and an exhibition honoring our female African-American veterans & Colin Powell.

"The ceremony will include a presentation by Rear Admiral Penoyer of the Alameda (Commander of the USCG District Eleven, at USCG Island Base Alameda, CA) and a proclamation read by Mr. Richard Valle is the Chairman of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors as well as remarks from Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft of Alameda.

Read more about Thursday's events, along with special events this weekend.

The East Bay Regional Park District will honor active and retired military members on Veterans Day with free parking and park entry at all regional parks.

Veterans Day, commemorated annually on Nov. 11, was first celebrated in 1919 to honor those who fought in World War I. It was initially called Armistice Day and was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

The holiday’s origin is tied to the armistice, a temporary end of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany signed in France on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

It became Veterans Day in 1954, shortly following the end of the Korean War and less than a decade after World War II, after various veterans service organizations urged Congress to encompass veterans of all wars in their honor.

Restaurants and other businesses will continue to show their appreciation for veterans and active-military members.

• Where Vets & Military Can Eat Free On Veterans Day 2021