How To Honor War Heroes On Veterans Day In Sarasota

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Veterans Day, a federal holiday, is held yearly on Nov. 11. It honors all American veterans and military.

Despite many events being cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still several ways to honor veterans in Sarasota on Wednesday.

St. Armands Circle hosts its annual Veterans Appreciation Day. Many businesses in the shopping center will offer discounts to men and women who are currently serving or have served in the U.S. Armed Forces between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Wednesday. To receive these special offers, proof of military service is required. Find a list of participating businesses here.

92.1 CTQ’s Maverick and Lulu in the Morning joins Goodwill Manasota for a Veterans Day celebration on Wednesday from 7 to 11 a.m. at the organization’s Veterans Services office, located at 8490 N. Lockwood Ridge Road in Sarasota. Maverick and Lulu will broadcast their show live from the event.

Free breakfast will be served to veterans. Representatives from local organizations, including SRQ Vets, Jewish Family and Children’s Services, the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee and Veteran Air, will be available to provide information about their services.

For more information, call 941-355-2721 or visit Goodwill Manasota’s website.

The Diocese of Venice hosts its annual Veterans Day Memorial Mass on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The mass honors the men and women who have served and continue to protect the country.

Usually, this event is held at the Sarasota National Cemetery. Because of the pandemic, the mass, which will be celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane, will be live streamed at the diocese’s Facebook page.

The city of North Port will host a virtual Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at 11 a.m. The event is being organized by VFW Post 8203. The ceremony will live stream on the city’s Facebook page.

se who served our Country, virtually. Due to the high-risk of the older demographic during COVID-19, this year's Veterans Day Ceremony will be held virtually by VFW Post 8203. Join us right here on Facebook to honor those who fought for our freedoms

Originally called Armistice Day, the holiday was created at the end of World War I to recognize those who fought in “the war to end all wars,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Its 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 after 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.

With some ceremonies, parades and presentations either canceled or altered in 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis, restaurants and other businesses will continue to show their appreciation for veterans and active military members.

Applebee’s, Bob Evans and Chili’s Grill and Bar are among the national restaurant chains offering free or discounted meals for veterans on Nov. 11, and 7-Eleven is offering a free cup of coffee or Big Gulp.

Other places, such as Golden Corral and Eat'n Park, have offers extended throughout November.

Veterans Day is somewhat related to, and sometimes mistaken for, Memorial Day, the federal holiday on the final Monday of May that is dedicated to those who have died while serving the United States in war.