Veterans Day In Braintree: How To Honor Military Personnel

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

And in honor of Braintree's veterans, the town will be hosting various events throughout the week to recognize and thank those who served.

At 1 p.m. on Monday, there will be a movie at the Elder Affairs/Veterans building for veterans. On Tuesday, veterans can come to the Elder Affairs building for a grab and go turkey dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. The Elder Affairs building is located at 71 Cleveland Ave.

All veterans and residents are invited to the tow'’s Veterans Day Ceremony on Thursday. Coffee and donuts will be available at 9:30 am. The program will begin at 10:30 am at Town Hall in the Cahill Auditorium. At the conclusion of the ceremony, lunch will be provided by Fasano’s Catering.

At 10 a.m., Friday, there will be a breakfast for veterans at the Elder Affair building.

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.

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.