Veterans Day is celebrated every year on November 11 to honor all American veterans who have served in the military since World War I. Our local community will honor veterans with concerts, ceremonies, free admission to local events or a free or discounted meal.
EVENTS
• Lest We Forget will present a free patriotic concert in honor of Veterans Day. This community celebration will honor veterans and their families with the Southshore Concert Band performing a free concert at Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, 1100 Yore Ave., Benton Harbor, on November 10 at 2 p.m. Before the concert, Lest We Forget will honor all veterans by taking a photo. Taking the photos starts at 1:00 PM and ends at 1:45 PM. Photos are sent by post. In addition, tribute will be paid to the deceased Lest We Forget members by showing their photos while singing “The Mansions of the Lord”. Veterans of all conflicts will be recognized and salutes will be given to each branch of the armed forces. There will also be a large map of Vietnam and veterans who served there will be able to sign their names where they served. If you have any questions, please contact Lest We Forget at 269-429-2098 or go online to lestweforgetusa.org.
• Celebrate Veterans Day by supporting 10 veterans-owned small businesses from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Veteran Makers Market, 11801 Pucker St., Niles. Come by, grab a coffee or lemonade and chat with a few veterans. At lunchtime a monster photo will be taken of all veterans present. This event is free and sponsored by Sticky Spoons Jam LLC.
• Brandywine Community Schools will hold their annual Veterans Day breakfast on Nov. 11 at 9:30 a.m. at the Brandywine Athletic Community Center, 1700 Bell Road, Niles. Register online by November 8 at https://bit.ly/4dts1Zx or call Brittney Mitchell at 269-684-7150, ext. 4209.
• Plymouth High School will present a Veterans Day Breakfast and Ceremony on Nov. 11. Breakfast is served at 7:30 am and the ceremony starts at 9:00 am. Breakfast is provided by Bob’s Cafeteria and BIGGBY from Plymouth serves the coffee. This program will be facilitated by class officers who will speak. The band and choir will also perform. This year’s keynote speaker is retired Plymouth veteran Mark Faulstich. All members of the community who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces are invited. The school is located at 1 Big Red Drive in Plymouth. Enter door 5.
• Enjoy a Veterans Day Concert with the Michiana Concert Band on November 11 at 11 a.m., hosted by VFW Post 360, 1307 E. Jefferson Blvd., Mishawaka. Veterans and their families are invited to enjoy a free lunch of ham and beans with cornbread after the concert.
• To honor veterans of the armed forces, the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center of Northern Indiana with Elkhart High School Junior ROTC will hold a flag ceremony with musicians from Elkhart High School beginning Nov. 11 at noon. The Indiana Patriot Guard Riders will post multiple United States flags along the way for the event. Some words of recognition and appreciation will be spoken. The National Anthem will be sung, the Pledge of Allegiance will be recited, taps will be played and veterans will be recognized. The Elkhart community and veterans are invited to attend. The ceremony will take place at the flagpole in front of the Elkhart OSMC location, 2310 California Road, Elkhart (next to Elkhart High School).
• The Tri-Military ROTC Veterans Day Ceremony will be held on Nov. 11 at 4 p.m. at the Clarke Memorial Fountain, located near the LaFortune Student Center, on the University of Notre Dame campus. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved to DeBartolo Hall, Room 141. This year’s guest speaker is Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, commander, Alaskan Command, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command Region and Eleventh Air Force, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska . He received his commission in 1994 when he graduated from the US Air Force Academy.
• The Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library will present “All the World was on Fire,” a history of Veterans Day, in the Spencer Gallery on November 11 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Andrew J. DeKever, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and veteran of the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan, will discuss World War I, how that conflict resulted in Veterans Day and the uneasy relationship America has with its defenders. This event is for adults over 18 years old. Registration required at mphpl.librarycalendar.com/events/month. The library is located at 209 Lincoln Way E. in Mishawaka.
•The Buchanan Area Senior Center invites all veterans, family, friends and community to a Veterans Seminar from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Nov. 12. At 10 a.m., Renee Rosenbaum, General Caregiver Support Services Program Coordinator, from the Battle Creek VA Medical Center, will provide an overview of the Caregiver Support Program. At 10:35 a.m., Berrien County Veterans Service Office Accredited Veteran Service Officer Ryan McNeely will present “15 Things Vets Need to Know,” with a Q&A to follow. Margie Hadsell, Nick Jones and Larry Money of the Therapeutic Equestrian Center will share the services available to veterans at the riding center at 11:10 a.m. “We Honor Veterans,” presented by Stephanie Kostizen, veteran advocate/community engagement specialist at Corewell Health, will discuss support provided through this program. At 12:10 p.m., guest speaker Bud Alley, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the Battle of Ia Drang, will speak. Registration is required; call 269-695-7119.
FREE ENTRY
• As part of the Patriotic Program Series, Ruthmere will celebrate Veterans Day on November 10. All active duty veterans, men and women, including their families, will be admitted free of charge to Ruthmere and the Havilah Beardsley House. Tours are offered at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. Reservations are encouraged. To make a reservation, call 574-264-0330. Ruthmere is located at 302 E. Beardsley Ave., Elkhart.
• Wellfield Botanic Gardens, 1011 N. Main St., Elkhart, will celebrate veterans and active military members on Nov. 10 with free admission, a $10 value. The gardens are open from noon to 5 p.m.
• The Military Honor Park and Museum, 4300 Terminal Drive, South Bend, is open Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers free admission to veterans. Cost: $5 per person. Please use the main entrance at South Bend International Airport.
• All veterans and active duty military personnel, and anyone in their vehicle, will be admitted free to DNR state parks, reservoir properties, state forest recreation areas and off-highway state recreation areas on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Inform the gatekeeper, whether you are a veteran or active duty.
• The LaPorte County Historical Museum, 2405 Indiana Ave., LaPorte, is offering free admission to veterans on Nov. 12. In honor of Marines Founding Day, the museum is also offering free admission to veterans on November 9. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4:30pm CST. Admission: Adults, $5; seniors, $4; under 18 years old, free.
• All active duty military and veterans are invited to ride the South Shore Line for free on all weekday and weekend trains from November 8 to 11. A maximum of three children aged 13 and under may ride for free with each soldier/veteran on weekdays outside rush hour and on all weekend trains. Warn the train crew as they walk through the train; no identification required. For more information on train schedules, visit mysouthshoreline.com.
• All veterans and active military personnel can enjoy a free ultimate wash at Mike’s Car Wash locations on November 11 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. This has a value of $22.
FREE OR DISCOUNT MEALS
• The American Legion Post 357 Auxiliary welcomes all veterans to its annual Veterans Day Dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 12. This free dinner will consist of beef and noodles. Dinner is available for spouses for $2. The Legion is located at 5414 W. Sample St., South Bend. For more information, please call 574-234-5073.
• On Nov. 11, Metro Diner, 423 E. University Drive, Granger, is offering 50% off their meal to active and retired military personnel with a valid military ID, and 10% off their meal year-round. Opening hours: Monday to Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday-Sunday 7:30 am to 8:00 pm
• All U.S. veterans and active duty military personnel can receive one free large wet burrito when dining in or taking out at all Hacienda Mexican restaurants on November 11. Bring proof of service.
• All Martin’s Super Markets are offering a storewide 11% discount to active, retired and discharged U.S. military and reservists. The 11% store discount is available from November 10 to 12. On Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., veterans can receive an honorary meal consisting of two pieces of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw, a roll, 16 oz. drink and a cookie. This is available via takeaway or dine-in at Martin’s Super Markets Side Door Deli Café. Must have military ID and loyalty card.
• Veterans can stop by Mission BBQ, 5230 N. Main St., Mishawaka, on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. and enjoy some free food for Veterans Day. There will also be information about many veterans organizations in the area. Appreciation bags will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. This event is sponsored by Mrs. Oats Center for Veterans.
• Participating McDonald’s restaurants in South Bend will offer a meal all day on Nov. 11 to all veterans with a valid military ID. Breakfast choices: Egg McMuffin or Bacon Egg Cheese Biscuit meal. For lunch or dinner: Double cheeseburger, 6-piece McNugget or Filet-O-Fish small meal. This deal is only available via dine-in or drive-thru. Breakfast is served until 10:30 am
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Veterans Day events in South Bend
