Veterans Day 2023: West Hartford To Host Special Ceremony

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The town Friday will have its offices closed to recognize the observed Veterans Day holiday on Friday, Nov. 10, but it will host a major event on Saturday, Nov. 11.

The American Legion Post 96 and the Town of West Hartford invite guests to the town's Veterans Day ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial, located at the corner of North Main Street and Farmington Avenue.

The Veterans Day ceremony will feature American Legion Post 96 Commander Heidi-Anne Mooney, past commanders Patrick Harrell and Moe Fradette, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 96, West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, and state Sen. Derek Slap, D-West Hartford.

LTC Sean Nolan, 436th Transportation Battalion, United States Army Reserve, will give the invocation. Bianca Day will sing the National Anthem.

Members of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 96 and the Hayes-Velhage Post 96 will present the memorial wreath.

Color guards from the American Legion Post 96 and West Hartford Police and Fire departments are also part of the ceremony honoring veterans.

In inclement weather, the ceremony will be held indoors at 11 a.m. in the community room at First Church Congregational, 12 S. Main St., West Hartford.

Holiday Closings

Friday, the observed date of the holiday, West Hartford offices will be closed, but schools and education offices remain open.

In addition, there are no delays in the collection of trash and recyclables.

All town operations will reopen as normal on Monday, Nov. 13.

Veterans Day started out as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, to commemorate the end of World War I a year prior.

It has evolved into Veterans Day honoring all military veterans and Nov. 11 became a national holiday in 1938.