We celebrate November 11, Veterans Day, to honor those who have served in the U.S. military.  Announcing Armistice Day (now known as Veterans Day), President Wilson said, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

One way this holiday is celebrated is through a National Veterans Day Ceremony held at Arlington National Cemetery. There will also be a free concert between the Capitol and the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The Concert for Valor, hosted by HBO, Starbucks Coffee Company, and Chase, is held to honor the sacrifice given by American veterans. Rihanna, Eminem, Bruce Springsteen, the Black Keys, and many other people will perform. The promotional materials explain that the concert will provide “a national stage for ensuring that veterans and their families know that their fellow Americans’ gratitude is genuine.” There will be a broadcast of the concert at 7 P.M. the day of Veterans Day on HBO.

The LHS marching band will be participating in the annual Brunswick Veterans Day Parade. There will be marching bands from different schools, veteran groups, school and youth organizations, sponsoring businesses and other companies, elected officials, and community members. This annual event is now on its 82nd year of commemorating those who have served as veterans.

The parade coordinator, Shaun Butcher,  said, “This is a time to celebrate, but more importantly, it is an opportunity to show our gratitude and thank our local veterans for the contributions they made to democracy and freedom.” There will also be an opening ceremony before the parade.

Along with the Brunswick parade, the marching band will be playing taps throughout the school on November 11. They will start playing at 11 A.M., which was the time that the armistice ended WWI.

New Market Middle School will be having a Veterans Day program, where LHS NJROTC will have a color guard presentation. Their overall goal is to help the community and to partake in community service.

Commander Lane believes that, “Every day, they (the US military) try to help protect our way of life.”