Veterans Day is Thursday, 11/11, and both Fairhaven and New Bedford are holding their traditional parades. Both were canceled last year due to the pandemic.
So, let’s show veterans how we missed honoring them and get out there and line the streets.
Fort Taber/Fort Rodman is also hosting Veterans Day events.
FAIRHAVEN PARADE
Thurs., 11/11, 9 a.m. Main Street from Benoit Square south to Fairhaven High School
Annual parade to honor all veterans is followed by a brief ceremony, including raising the “Big Flag” and cannon-firing in front of Fairhaven High School.
Veterans and other marching groups are welcome to line up at Benoit Square at 8:30 a.m. Parade steps off at 9:00 a.m. The parade is coordinated by the Fairhaven Veterans Services department.
After the parade veterans and the public are invited to the Fairhaven VFW, 109 Middle St., for a buffet.
The Fairhaven Council on Aging will have a COA van in the parade. Call the Fairhaven Senior Center at 508-979-4029 to sign up if you are a veteran who wishes to ride in the van.
NEW BEDFORD PARADE
The public is invited to the 2021 New Bedford Veterans Day Parade. This year’s parade is being put together in a joint effort between the New Bedford Veterans’ Advisory Board, the City of New Bedford, as well as the New Bedford Veterans’ Services Department.
This year’s parade will take place on Thursday, 11/11. If the parade is canceled there will be a service held at the Fort Taber Community Center located inside Fort Taber Park, 1000A S. Rodney French Blvd., New Bedford, 02744, and all are invited to attend. The service will begin at 1:00PM.
The parade will form at the intersection of Rockdale Avenue and Union Street (Buttonwood Park) beginning around 10:15AM and stepping off at 11:00AM.
The parade will march East on Union Street to County Street; then turn left and head North on County Street to William Street where it will turn right onto William Street. The Parade will head east on William Street past City Hall and the reviewing stand which will be located on the right in front on the New Bedford Main Library at the intersection of Pleasant Street and William St. Approximate address for the end of the parade is 613 Pleasant St., New Bedford, MA 02740.
A Veteran’s Day service will be held at the reviewing stand following the conclusion of the parade and we invite everyone to stay for it.
If you plan on marching in this year’s parade, we ask that you please RSVP so that we can put our marching order together as well as have a list to publish of all organizations participating. Please RSVP by calling the New Bedford Veterans’ Services Department at 508-991-6184 or an email cgomes@newbedford-ma.gov
If you do not RSVP because you are unsure whether you can participate but then find out you can, we invite you to still show up to the parade. All who want to participate in the parade will be given the opportunity but a call to the Veterans’ Services Department to let us know would be appreciated.
At Fort Taber/Fort Rodman
Please join the Fort Taber-Fort Rocman Military Museum on Nov. 11 for our annual observance of Veterans/Armistice Day. The museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coffee and donuts will be available.
At 11 a.m. the museum will participate in the Bells of Peace ceremony, marking the end of World War I.
At 1 p.m. the museum is proud to host the presentation of “The Use of Animals in WWI,” presented by Joe Yukna of the Cape Code Military Museum (1 hour). This bizarrely fascinating tale tells of the expected and surprisinkg uses of animals during the Great War. May not be suitable for small children.
•••
Click here to download the entire 11/4/21 issue: 11-04-21 Storm
Support local journalism, donate to the Neighb News with PayPal.
