How To Honor War Heroes On Veterans Day In Manchester

MANCHESTER, NJ — Veterans Day, a federal holiday, is held yearly on Nov. 11. It honors all American veterans and military.

In Manchester, there is a Veterans Day Ceremony on Wednesday in front of the Manchester Township Town Hall, 101 Colonial Dr., beginning at 11 a.m.

Originally called Armistice Day, the holiday was created at the end of World War I to recognize those who fought in “the war to end all wars,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Its 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 after 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.

Restaurants and other businesses are continuing to show their appreciation for veterans and active military members.

Applebee’s 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, 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 in war.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our app. Download here. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Manchester Patch on Facebook.