Here’s How You Can Mark Veterans Day In The Bangor Area This Year

We're coming up on Veterans Day (this year celebrated on a Tuesday). November 11th is the day the federal government has set aside for us to celebrate all members of the American Military (whereas we honor only those who have passed on Memorial Day).

This year, there are several special events planned in the Bangor area to honor our military members, including a Distinguished Veterans' Honor Roll ceremony, a Veterans Day Parade, and a ceremony at the Korean War Memorial.

Read More: Veterans Organization Using The Art Of Woodturning To Help

Bangor JROTC, the oldest JROTC program in the nation, established in 1861, will be running the events.

Former Maine Army National Guard Commander, now senior instructor of Bangor High's JROTC program, retired Lt. Col. Darryl Lyon, says the festivities will start this Friday at 1 PM at Peakes Auditorium. The JROTC will honor Sandra Harvey, the first female JROTC Battalion Commander in the U.S. (who just happens to be from Bangor), along with two other special guests at the Distinguished Veterans' Honor Roll Ceremony.

Then, on Tuesday, November 11th, the public is invited to gather in Downtown Bangor to watch the Veterans Day Parade, which will kick off at 10:15 in the parking lot of the Brewer Hannaford.

The parade will make its way down Wilson Street, across the bridge onto Union Street in Bangor, where it will take a right onto Main Street and travel down past a reviewing stand set up in West Market Square.

Ret. Lt. Col. Lyon will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at the Korean War Memorial located at Mt. Hope Cemetery following the parade at 12:30 PM.

Along with parades and celebrations, there are often a number of special offers and deals for military members on Veterans Day. Here are some of the other ways national businesses are honoring service members this year.

Rising Virtue Lodge in Bangor (located at the Moasonic Center on Union Street) is also hosting a Veterans Recognition celebration.

Veterans and their families are invited to RSVP to Roland Gendreau at rolandgendreau@gendreauaccounting.com if they plan to attend