5 Ways For Middletown Residents To Observe Veterans Day In Connecticut

MIDDLETOWN, CT — Veterans Day is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 11, with several opportunities in and reasonably near Middletown to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, both in times of war and peace.

Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day is always observed on Nov. 11 to reflect the signing of the armistice ending World War I at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. The observance was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 to include veterans who served in World War II and the Korean War.

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Here are some upcoming Veterans Day events worth of a visit:

Middletown State Veterans Cemetery

On Saturday, Nov. 8, beginning at 9 a.m. sharp, volunteers will gather to place more than 13,700 American flags at the graves of Connecticut's fallen heroes in honor of Veterans Day.
The annual effort, staged rain or shine, ensures that "every veteran laid to rest on Bow Lane is visibly remembered." Veterans groups, Scout troops, youth organizations, and community members from across the state come together each year to take part in the "deeply meaningful act of remembrance."
On Saturday, Nov. 15, volunteers will return at 9 a.m. to "respectfully" retrieve the flags, weather permitting, with a rain date set for Nov. 22. A Veterans Day ceremony will take place at the cemetery on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m.

Road Race

Connecticut will host several Veterans Day events, including the 10th Annual CT Veterans Day Race in Coventry on Nov. 8, featuring a 4-mile run, 3-mile walk, and 3-mile ruck.

Town of Union

The state's smallest town in terms of population, Union, will stage a Veterans Day Observance Ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 9:30 a.m. at the Town Green on Buckley Highway. The Union School students will be participating, along with other Town officials. The Union School will be serving refreshments following the ceremony.

Civil War Monument, Vernon

There is nothing formally scheduled, but a visit to the Civil War monument at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Vernon is a worthy Veterans Day trip. It's among the oldest Civil War tributes in the nation. The cemetery sits off Main Street in the Talcottville section of Vernon, an area off Route 83 just over the Manchester line, whose roots run deep in the town's history of manufacturing.
The Talcott family owned one of those mills (since converted to housing) and, in 1867, set up a cemetery tucked into a corner of the village near what is now 100 Main St. Trouble is, the tucking was done so well it can take several swoops in a car to figure out where it is, even though a historical marker designates the spot. The driveway to Mt. Hope runs between two houses, but then opens up to green pastures, rolling hills and monuments — a lot of monuments. And one monument stands out — the Civil War memorial, erected in 1869. The soldiers whose names appear on the stone structure represent a Civil War textbook from the bloodiest day in American history to the most infamous prison camp of the conflict.

Vets Are Free at the Air Museum

The New England Air Museum near Bradley International Airport is offering free admission for veterans and active military members on Veterans Day.