Arlington Veterans Day Parade 2016: Schedule, Maps and More

ARLINGTON, MA — Veterans Day is on Friday, and Arlington residents will gather in the center to honor those who have served and to pay tribute to local veterans. The annual Arlington Veterans Day Parade will be held Friday morning.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day marks an armistice, or a temporary cessation of hostilities, between Allied nations and Germany during the first world ward. In November of the following year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day.

However, Armistice Day was originally set aside to honor veterans of World War 1, but following World War 2 in 1954, Congress amended the act of 1938 by striking out the word Armistice and replacing it with the word Veterans. President Dwight D. Eisenhower later issued a Veterans Day Proclamation which stated:

"In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

Here's a breakdown of the Arlington festivities:

Schedule

The parade will step off at Adams Street on Massachusetts Avenue and continue on to Monument Park in Arlington Center for the placing of wreathes.

Parade Step-off: 10:30 a.m.

Ceremony at Monument Park: 11 a.m.

All residents are invited to join in on the festivities.

Map

Here's a map of the parade route.

Image via Joe Lipovich, Patch Staff.