CENTRAL FLORIDA -- Monday, Nov. 11, marks Veterans Day, and Central Floridians will pay tribute with festivities ranging from parades to ceremonies to dinners.
Orlando, Volusia County, Flagler County, Palm Bay, Cape Canaveral are among the municipalities that will feature a Veterans Day Parade.
This year's parade in Orlando is the city's 25th and will feature a theme of "A Life of Loyalty and Service." The event begins with an opening ceremony at 11 a.m. on Nov. 9. The route will begin at Robinson Street and Orange Avenue, turn left on Central Boulevard, left on Rosalind Avenue and end at Robinson Street.
DeLand will be the host for the Volusia County Veterans Day Parade. An opening ceremony recognizing a veteran for wartime service will precede the parade at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 9. Starting at 10 a.m., military vehicles, marching bands and patriotic floats will move down Woodland Boulevard to honor the sacrifices of all veterans and their families.
In Bunnell, Flagler County parade participants will step off at 200 S. Church St. beginning at 10 a.m. on Nov. 11. The route begins at 200 S. Church St. and ends at the Government Services Building, culminating with a Veterans Day ceremony.
The Palm Bay parade begins at 10 a.m. on Nov. 9, along Port Malabar Boulevard NE. The city selected the Gold Star family of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tristen Karun Wright -- his parents, Ricky and Novolia Wright, and his sister, Demyia Biggs -- as the parade's grand marshals. Wright made his final flight on Aug. 15, 2024.
In Cape Canaveral, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #10131 and American Legion Post #348 will join forces for a parade starting at 11:11 a.m. on Nov. 9. The route begins at Poinsetta and Taylor Avenue and will run east on Taylor Avenue, to Ridgewood Avenue, turning north and proceeding to Harrison Avenue. The parade will pass by the community center via Harrison Avenue and then move south on Orange Avenue to end at Veterans Memorial Park at 265 Polk Avenue.
Following the parade, the public is invited to attend a commemorative ceremony at the park, which will include a moment of silence. After the service, guests are encouraged to return to the municipal parking lot at Taylor and Poinsetta Avenue for music, food, and fun.
In Ocala, a full day of free festivities is planned at Marion County Veterans Memorial Park starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 10. The culmination of the event will be the official unveiling of the Family Monument, a bronze tribute that represents the joy of veterans from all eras coming home from deployment. It is the first of four monuments that will feature the theme "God, Country & Family" at the park. The day begins with a car show at 11 a.m., food trucks, light trucks, DJ music from DJ Marcopolo, prizes and raffles and wraps up with a concert by the Kingdom of The Sun, playing patriotic and popular music, and a fireworks display called Veterans Light The Stars.
The park also will host a Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. on Nov. 11, featuring bands from 30 Marion County area schools performing patriotic music. Parking at the library complex next to the park is free. Military families who have lost loved ones in service will present a wreath to honor all local veterans who gave their lives. The ceremony also includes a Parade of Colors, a 21-gun salute and a vintage airplane flyover.
Winter Park plans a celebration starting at 10 a.m. on Nov. 8 at the Winter Park Community Center Ruby Ball Amphitheater. Visits with veterans organizations are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. Among those who will be on hand for the event are U.S. Army representative Pam Russell from Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Benjamin Mack-Jackson of the Veterans of World War II History Project and Central Florida Quilts of Valor's Melissa Mathews. The VFW Post 2093 Community Band and Maria Olivia Bryant with Ezra Henry and David Aiken will perform.
The Orlando Science Center, in partnership with Vision of Flight, will hold a wreath-laying ceremony at its Red Tails Monument in Loch Haven Park at 1 p.m. on Nov. 11.
Some Seminole County communities plan celebrations, too.
In Winter Springs, the city will present a Hometown Hero award to Marine Corps Master Sgt. Ret. Michael J. Segura and U.S. Army Sgt. Ret. Paul H Dillmana, both of whom remain active in the community. The award will be part of the Winter Springs Veterans Tribute from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 11 at the Winter Springs Town Center Veterans Memorial.
Oviedo and American Legion Oviedo Memorial Post 243 will have a Veterans Day Observance at 5 p.m. on Nov. 11, at the Veterans Memorial at Center Lake Park. A new plaque with the names of veterans will be read by Commander Brad Sokoly and added to the tribute wall at the park, and the Oviedo High School Brass Ensemble will perform the national anthem.
The city of Kissimmee will host "Dinner with a Veteran," to honor local veterans from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Chambers Park Community Center at 2380 Smith St. Veterans and their families will be treated to a free meal. Contact the Chambers Park Community Center at 407-518-2599 to pre-register.