Veterans Day In Plainfield: How To Honor Military Personnel

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

Village offices will also be closed Thursday in light of the holiday.

Although the village doesn't have any holiday celebrations planned, Garage Band Brewing, at 15025 S. Des Plaines St., is honoring veterans at the locale from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

At the joint event with veteran organization AllenForce, a check from proceeds of the first batch of pilsner Veteran AF will be presented to the organization. Moe Joe's will be served to everyone who pre-registered for the free event.

Subscribe to Patch’s free Plainfield newsletter and get real-time email alerts.

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.

While some ceremonies, parades and services may be canceled or altered as the coronavirus pandemic continues, 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.

(For more news and information like this, subscribe to the Plainfield Patch for free. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. Don't forget to like us on Facebook!)