Veteran’s Day Celebrations in Williamsburg and Yorktown
The Historic Triangle is home for many military families. Our area is a patchwork of battlefields where victories and defeats shaped our present day country. This weekend take some time out to celebrate our Veterans and any number of events below. And thank you to all of our military families and veterans.
Flags for Hero’s – beginning on Saturday, November 9th-16th at Veterans Park (formally Mid County Park), The Rotary Club of James City County will display 100 U.S. flags in grateful appreciation of our active, retired, and military veterans and first responders the week of Veterans Day. In addition to the flag display, Soldiers from Fort Eustis and Cadets from the College of William and Mary Army ROTC Battalion will each stand guard on separate occasions (Veterans Day from 9:00am to 1:00pm).
Veterans Day Proclamation Ceremony – Sunday, November 10th at 10am-10:20am. Colonial Williamsburg Veterans Day programming begins with a brief ceremony honoring the men and women who have served in the military branches of the United States Armed Forces on Duke of Gloucester Street, in front of the Liberty Lounge entrance. Join Colonial Williamsburg Fifes & Drums, Virginia Military Garrison and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation employees for this heartfelt tribute.
Flag Retirement Ceremony – Sunday, November 10th at 11am-12pm at Chippokes Plantation State Park. Veteran’s Day remembers those servicemen and women who fought for and protected our great country. Chippokes Plantation State Park will commemorate these brave individuals by conducting a flag retirement ceremony. Visitors who have American flags they wish to retire can bring them to the ceremony or may turn them in at the park’s Visitor Center any time leading up to the program on November 11. For more information, please call 757-294-3728.
Colonial Williamsburg Military March – Sunday, November 10th from 2:30 – 3:00 pm – An afternoon march and ceremony honoring America’s veterans feature the Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums, Military Programs staff, and an address of gratitude to Williamsburg community veterans by Mrs. Washington, concluding with a commemoration service behind the Courthouse. All armed forces veterans are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier – Sunday, November 10th from 3 – 4 p.m. at York Hall. Terry Walker, who served in 1978 and 1979 as a Sentinel (or Tomb Guard as they are commonly known), will speak about how the Unknown Soldiers from different wars were selected and interred, allowing Americans to honor those who paid the ultimate price in combat but whose remains were not identifiable. Mr. Walker will also share how one becomes a Sentinel, the training involved, and the demanding requirements for receiving the Tomb Guard Badge.
Veterans Day Memorial Service – Sunday, November 10th from 3:30 – 4:30p.m. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Williamsburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honor veterans passed with a memorial service including patriotic exercises and memorial wreath-laying in the Revolutionary War Cemetery behind the Governor’s Palace. The service is free and open to the community.
National Park Free Entrance Day – Monday, November 11th – National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. Historic Jamestown is included, for a list click on link here.
Annual Grace Church Veterans Day Ceremony – Monday, November 11 at 111 Church Street at 10 a.m. – The Annual Historic Grace Episcopal Church (ca 1697) Veteran’s Day Ceremony will take place rain or shine. After “Dedication of Flags”, brief remarks and prayers and playing of “Taps” in the church, we will process through the Historic Church Graveyard replacing American Flags on each of the 93 known graves of Veterans (Revolutionary War, Civil War, World Wars 1 & 2, Korea, Cold War, and Vietnam). Grace Church parishioners, their families, friends, and all visitors (especially Veterans, Military, and their families) are welcome to attend and participate. Contact Grace Church at 867.8643 or www.gracechurchyorktown.org
Veterans Day Ceremony – Monday, November 11 from 10-11 a.m. Williamsburg/James City County Veteran’s Day Ceremony at the Veterans Tribute Tower along Discovery Park Boulevard in New Town. The event honoring all veterans – past, present and future.
York County Veterans Day Ceremony – Monday, November 11, at noon – “Stories from the Monument” Veterans Day Ceremony is the continuing theme of the annual Veterans Day ceremony held in historic Yorktown. This commemoration service includes tolling of the bell, presentation of the colors, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, “Taps,” and a special recognition of the veterans of our Armed Forces. This year’s ceremony features stories of those whose names are about to be added to the Monument on York Hall’s front lawn. Also featured is Guest Speaker Richard Killblane, 1979 graduate of the United States Military Academy, who served as the United States Transportation Corps Historian from 2000 to 2019.
Special Movie Showing: “D-Day: Normandy 1944” – Monday, November 11 join the Mariners Museum for a special showing of D-Day: Normandy 1944. The largest Allied operation of World War II began in Normandy, France. Yet, few know in detail exactly why and how, from the end of 1943 through August 1944, this region became the most important location in the world. Discover from a new perspective how this landing changed the world. Narrated by Tom Brokaw, “D-Day: Normandy 1944” pays tribute to those who gave their lives for our freedom. A duty of memory, a duty of gratitude. Show Times: 9:30 a.m., 11:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. , 3:30 p.m.
Special Offers:
Visit Historic Jamestowne for FREE, as they commemorate Veteran’s Day!
Virginia Living Museum – All weekend the VLM is offering a 20% discount to members who are veterans and a 10% discount to non-member veterans at the Wild Things Museum Store with proof of ID. All year, they offer every veteran who visits the museum, $1 off general admission and $10 off new/renewal memberships.
Colonial Williamsburg – Offering FREE admission during Veterans Day weekend, Friday through Monday, November 8-11, to all active duty Military, Reservists, Retirees, Veterans, National Guardsmen and their immediate dependents.
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