Community Corner
How To Honor Heroes On Veterans Day In Aurora
Veterans nationwide will be recognized Wednesday.
AURORA, IL — Americans are set to honor veterans and active military members Wednesday amid a surge in coronavirus cases throughout the country. That means celebrations won't look like they do most years, but it won't stop them entirely.
Aurora canceled its annual Veterans Day parade, but city officials will host a virtual ceremony at 11 a.m. Wednesday. A broadcast of the ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. on the city's Facebook page.
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Originally called Armistice Day, the holiday was created at the end of World War I to recognize those who fought in “The War to End All Wars,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Its origin is tied to the armistice, a temporary end of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Signed in France, the armistice took effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month that year.
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It became Veterans Day in 1954, shortly after the end of the Korean War and less than a decade after World War II. Various veterans service organizations urged Congress to encompass veterans of all wars.
With many ceremonies, parades and presentations either canceled or altered in 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis, restaurants and other businesses will continue to show their appreciation for veterans and active military members.
Applebee’s, Bob Evans and Chili’s Grill and Bar are among the national restaurant chains offering free or discounted meals for veterans on Nov. 11, and 7-Eleven is offering a free cup of coffee or Big Gulp.
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Other places, such as Golden Corral and Eat'n Park, have offers extended throughout November.
Veterans Day is related to — but sometimes mistaken for — Memorial Day, the federal holiday on the final Monday of May. Memorial Day is dedicated to those who have died while serving the United States in war.
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