Oregon Veterans Day: What's Open, Closed, Where To Mark The Day

PORTLAND, OR — Thursday is Veterans Day and that means there will be some things open and some things closed. And while there will be parades, there won't be as many as usual.

The Ross Hollywood Chapel Veterans Day Parade in Portland has been canceled for a second straight year. Also, the parade in Beaverton has been canceled. There will be no formal event this year. Same thing in Bend where the parade was canceled because of a lack of volunteers.

Even the annual parade at Fort Vancouver has been canceled. Instead, the fort will host an outdoor celebration under tents with guest speakers.

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There will still be parades and celebrations.

The 70th annual parade in Albany will take place with a twist. Instead of floats parading down the street, the Mid-Willamette Valley YMCA invited people to display their floats as people walk by.

Meanwhile, the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs hosts their Statewide Veterans Day Celebration at the Capitol Park in Salem starting at 2 p.m.

Closer to town is the annual event at the University of Portland. Now in its seventh decade, the Praying Hands/Boken Wall Memorial begins Wednesday at 10 a.m. and continues for 24 hours.

As for what's open and closed:

Federal office, state offices, federal courts, and state courts will all be closed;

There will be no mail delivery and post offices will be closed;

City and county offices in Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties will be closed;

Most libraries are closed; and

While the zoo won't be doing anything for veterans, parking meters in Portland will be free.