How To Honor War Heroes On Veterans Day In New York City

NEW YORK CITY — Veterans Day, a federal holiday, is held yearly on Nov. 11. It honors all American veterans and military.

In New York City, several Veterans Day events are planned for Wednesday including a virtual parade, an online movie screening and a Wounded Warriors livestream.

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 signed in France on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

It became Veterans Day in 1954, shortly after the end of the Korean War and less than a decade after World War II, after various veterans service organizations urged Congress to encompass veterans of all wars in their honor.

With some 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.

Other places, such as Golden Corral and Eat'n Park, have offers extended throughout November.

Veterans Day is somewhat related to, and sometimes mistaken for, Memorial Day, the federal holiday on the final Monday of May that is dedicated to those who have died while serving the United States in war.

Events around New York City:

New York City Veterans Day Parade — The parade this year has been replaced by digital coverage that will be streamed live on Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. on WABC or on the parade's website. A virtual Line of March, along with other social media activities, will take place on the parade's Facebook and Twitter pages starting at 8 a.m.

Jericho Project Virtual Celebration — A virtual event titled "Serving Those Who Served" will be held from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and will include appearances from guest speakers like the NYC DVS Commissioner James Hendon, EP Engineering and Jericho Project Veteran staffers.

Virtual 9/11 Museum Tour — A live, interactive tour of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York City will be streamed starting at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Those hoping to attend should email veterans@911memorial.org.

Honoring Our Warriors Livestream — The Wounded Worrier Project in New York City will livestream stories and comments from veterans and former NFL quarterback Jesse Palmer, and attendees are invited to share their own stories. The event will be livestreamed from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on the project's Facebook page, YouTube channel and website.

Virtual Veterans Day Benefit Movie Night and Q&A — Arts in the Armed Forces will host a "2001: A Space Odyssey" screening followed by a trivia contest from 8 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday. Attendance is free for active duty service members and veterans. Civilians are asked to make a donation of $20.01 or more to attend.

Several other Veterans Day events in New York City can be found on OurVeterans.NYC.