Waltham Veterans Day 2017: Parade, What's Open, Closed

WALTHAM, MA — This year Veterans Day, a national holiday established in 1926 to honor men and women who have served in the military, falls on a Saturday the school holiday is Friday, but the Waltham remembrance ceremony will be Saturday.

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."

Veterans’ Day Saturday, November 11, at 11 a.m.

The City of Waltham Veterans’ Services and The Waltham Allied Veterans’ Council will honor all Veterans at a ceremony to be held at the Circle of Remembrance at 11 a.m. on the Common at 610 Main Street.
The Circle of Remembrance 13th annual Brick Dedication ceremony will follow the Veterans’ Day Ceremony.

There will be seats provided for the 13th Brick Dedication and Veterans. Rain or shine.

If you're part of a veteran group, and plan to march in formation meet at the Elm Street Parking Lot behind City Hall at 10:30 a.m. and those will march in formation to the Circle of Remembrance.

Also happening: Through November at the Waltham Library on Main, the Waltham Museum has a month long exhibit featuring WWI artifacts highlighting Waltham’s participation in the war.

If you know of specific businesses that are open or closed, help out your fellow neighbors by telling us in the comment section!

What's Closed Friday

• Public Schools
• Most banks will be closed to observe the holiday
• City Offices
• Library

What's Open

• Post offices (closed Saturday)

The following will be open at the business owner's discretion

• Restaurants
• Convenience Stores
• Liquor stores
• Retail stores (check with your local retailers first)
• Both the MBTA and the commuter rail will operate on a regular schedule. THE RIDE Service will also operate on schedule. View the schedules here >>>

Trash Schedule!

Photo of Waltham Police Department salute by Jenna Fisher/Patch