Veterans Day In Dearborn: How To Honor Military Personnel

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

• The City of Dearborn Government and the Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council invite you to attend the annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. Please plan to practice all COVID-19 safety precautions, and wear a mask for our vulnerable veterans and community members. See the event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/571153194168016 Please also watch this CDTV video for all the details!
• The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation offers all active-duty military personnel, veterans, and their family’s free admission on Veterans Day from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 11, at 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn. Present military ID at the Welcome Center or call 313-982-6001 to redeem free tickets in advance. Limit six guests per party. Tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis, thehenryford.org/current-events/calendar/veterans-day.

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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.