Remembrance Day, Veterans Day Ceremonies and Services: Nov 11

Remembrance Day and Veterans Day is taking place on November 11th and there will be ceremonies and services taking place in almost every town and city that wants to remember those who have died or still continue to die as a result of war.

Photos

Why do we wear poppies on Remembrance Day?

see larger image

uploaded by eric hands

• 

  uploaded by eric hands | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Priscilla Ouverney | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Priscilla Ouverney | add comment

• 

  uploaded by 0147771 | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Zoeycat | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Zoeycat | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Zoeycat | add comment

• 

  uploaded by Zoeycat | add comment

• 

  uploaded by ennuipoet | add comment

• 

  uploaded by jamesoleary87 | add comment

Here we will cover some of the bigger ceremonies in Vancouver, Toronto, New York, New Orleans, Indianapolis, around Los Angeles, London England, and Normandy France.

As 11am is so important to November 11th (as the armistice was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month) so most ceremonies and services start on or around 11am. However, check with your local listings for road closures and specific times.

In Vancouver BC, the Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the Victory Square Cenotaph at West Hastings and Cambie Street starting at 10:30am, with many other events going on around the city and the suburbs of Vancouver. 

Toronto Ontario is the same, with many events going on at the same time and veterans will get admission to many city events free. All transit vehicles will also pause for two minutes starting at 11am.

Here is a sampling of some of the events in Toronto.

New York City will host one of the largest parades in North America and for the first time the Marines' famous Navajo Code Talkers will walk in the parade.

It is expected to cause some traffic delays however:

New Orleans will also host a Veterans Day Parade at the National WWII Museum, where five Louisiana veterans will receive the French Legion of Honor, and two minutes of silence will be observed at 11am. France will also be presenting the Normandy Liberty Bell to the museum.

In Indiana, a Veterans Day ceremony will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, and at 11am a color guard presents honors to America's dead at the Tomb of the Unknowns. There will also be a Veterans Day Drive from 9am to 12pm at the Indiana War Memorial downtown. The parade will start at 11:30am.

There are numerous Veterans Day events going on in California, such as a flag raising ceremony in Claremont and a free car wash for veterans at Mountain View Car Wash and Lube in Upland.
There will also be the Veterans Day parade through the downtown core of Los Angeles so expect lots of road closures.

In London, England, a Remembrance Day ceremony will be held at the Cenotaph between Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament, with another ceremony going on at Westminster Abbey at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior.

There will be a Remembrance Day Parade through the streets of London and in the surrounding towns and villages there will be smaller parades and services. An observance of 2 minutes silence will be held at 11am to make those who have died before us during war time.

Some of the most moving ceremonies and services are held on the beaches of Normandy, France, where the Allies first landed in World War II. There will be a service on the beaches and an observance of two minutes of silence.

This is by no means an exhaustive list and footage and pictures will be added when the ceremonies have taken place.

Feel free to add your experiences at your own ceremony or service below.