AUTHOR SANEL HUSKANOVIC / CATEGORY PARADE / PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER-11-2019

Veterans Day, the American federal holiday born with the aim of honoring the veterans and all armed forces who fought for America in the war, always occurs on November 11th.

This is a long-awaited national holiday for New Yorkers. This year, 2019, it falls on a Monday. To mark the occasion, a large commemorative parade will take place along Fifth Avenue, right in the heart of Manhattan.

During the ceremony, American patriotism and the strong connection to the Stars and Stripes flag will be highlighted. Among other things, Veterans Day will be celebrated even more intensively this year as it marks the 100th anniversary of this memorial day (1919-2019).

Veterans Day is celebrated every year on November 11th for a reason. In fact, this date marks the end of the First World War. At around 11:00 a.m. on November 11, 1918, the armistice was signed between Germany and the Allies, ending the war.

The following year (1919), then-President of the United States Thomas Woodrow Wilson initiated the anniversary. Originally the name Armistice Day was chosen to mark the end of hostilities and to pay tribute to World War I veterans.

Later, the purpose of the anniversary was expanded to include all American war veterans to celebrate the courage shown in defense of the homeland. Notably, 1954 was the year that Congress approved the request to change the name to mark the anniversary. From that year on, Veterans Day was celebrated!

There are many similarities between Veterans Day and Memorial Day (which is celebrated in May). The main difference lies in their meaning and purpose. War veterans are honored on Veterans Day, while soldiers who lost their lives in war are remembered on Remembrance Day.

Veterans Day in New York includes a traditional opening ceremony (closed to the public) that precedes the famous parade on 5th Street. This ceremony will take place at approximately 11:00 a.m. in Madison Square Park (between 24th Street and Fifth Avenue). The crown will be dropped off at the Eternal Light Monument, the monument in the park. The mayor, President Trump and other political figures will be in attendance.

The official ceremony that opens Veterans Day is followed by the grand parade that runs down 5th Avenue from 26th to 46th Streets. It is approximately 2 miles (30 minutes walk) long. This year it starts at 12:00 p.m. and ends around 3:30 p.m.

Each year, over 20,000 participants take part in the Veterans Day Parade. Military, war veterans, military boards, brass bands, military families, etc. The military vehicles participating in the parade help to increase the large and impressive effect.

For those not in New York, you also have the opportunity to watch the parade streaming by connecting to the official website .

Most stores are open and have special offers for Veterans Day.

Open

• Target - Regular hours
• Walmart - Regular Hours
• Trader Joe's - Hours of Operation
• Cinemas - Open regular hours (and veterans receive discounts)
• Zoos - Open Regular Hours
• Malls - Most malls and department stores are open.
• National Parks - National parks in the United States are open and do not charge admission on Veterans Day.

Closed

• Anything owned by the government, like the DMV and public libraries, will most likely remain closed.
• Banks are generally closed, although ATMs are always available.
• The U.S. Postal Service will not deliver mail on Monday, and U.S. post offices are also closed.
• If you plan to visit a museum, call to make sure it is not closed. Some museums are open on Veterans Day, others are not.