Veterans Day, a federal holiday, is held yearly on Nov. 11. It honors all American veterans and military.
In Miami-Dade County, several of the area’s annual events will go virtual this year.
The annual Miami Beach Veterans Day celebration will share a Veterans Day tribute video on Wednesday. The city collected photos and short videos from residents to create the tribute. Email for more information.
The city of Doral will also stream a special event Wednesday from 9 to 10 a.m. on its official Facebook page. The event will include special guests from SOUTHCOM and Doral Police Department.
Some events will still be held in person Wednesday, including the town of Cutler Bay’s Veterans Day Breakfast at Sandbar Sports Grill, located at 20305 Old Cutler Road in Cutler Bay. This free breakfast for those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces starts at 9 a.m. Reserve a seat by emailing .
Global Leaders Organization presents Capital, Commerce & Community: An Evening with CEOs, Founders and Events Wednesday, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Farfalle, located at 333 SE 2nd Street in Miami. The focus will be on opportunities for veteran-owned businesses. Entry is free. Find more info online here.
Veterans looking for a truly socially distanced experience on Wednesday can visit any Florida State Parks for free. Find a map of parks online here.
Beyond Veterans Day itself, Phil Peterson’s Veterans Day Ride is set for Sunday starting at 11 a.m. Motorcyclists will meet at Peterson’s Harley-Davidson South, located at 19825 S. Dixie Highway in Cutler Bay, and end at Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill, located at 104000 Overseas Hwy. in Key Largo. Find more info online here.
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.
With some ceremonies, parades and presentations either canceled or altered in 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis, 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 in war.
