Washington, D.C. — Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo D. West, Jr., will join the President and millions of Americans on Wednesday, Nov. 11, as the nation pays tribute to her defenders — America’s veterans.
“As we stand at the dawn of a new millennium we recognize that the blessings of peace and prosperity that America enjoys today are due in no small part to the courage and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform,” said President Clinton. “Veterans Day is a special time to remember and honor all those who have served in our Armed Forces.”
Secretary West said, “A reflection of America’s spirit is an appreciation for our veterans who have been the protectors and defenders of our cherished liberties and independence.” Secretary West pointed out that America has a continuing obligation to her veterans. “Our commitment does not end when the shooting stops. We must work to heal the wounds of our nation’s veterans and honor their sacrifices,” he said.
In Washington, D.C., the annual Veterans Day observance will be held at Arlington National Cemetery, where President Clinton will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The event will take place at 11:00 a.m., for it is at that hour on Nov. 11, 1918, that World War I hostilities ended. The day later became known as Armistice Day, but in 1954 Congress renamed it Veterans Day to honor all those who served in America’s Armed Forces.
The program, open to the general public, is sponsored by the Veterans Day National Committee, composed of Washington-based representatives of national veterans organizations. The Catholic War Veterans, USA, Inc., will host this year’s activities at Arlington.
The program will feature patriotic music by the U.S. Marine Corps Band (The President’s Own).
Secretary West noted that while Arlington captures much of the national attention on Veterans Day, the rest of the nation’s observances are just as meaningful. To support nationwide activities, VA has asked the 50 Governors to name Veterans Day chairpersons to coordinate state observances and to work with service organizations, military officials and communities planning parades, ceremonies and other events.
The Veterans Day National Committee has designated the following sites for official regional Veterans Day observances:
Birmingham, Alabama
Mr. William M. Voigt
National Veterans Day in Birmingham
P.O. Box 642
Birmingham, AL 35201
(205) 254-2436
Mobile, Alabama
Colonel W.E. Callender
Mobile Bay Area Veterans Day Commission, Inc.
P.O. Box 2187
Mobile, AL 36652-2187
(334) 431-8617
Alameda, California
Mr. Earl Starnes
Alameda County Veterans Affairs Commission
200 Grand Avenue, #215
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 208-7633
San Jose, California
Mr. Gene Fanucchi
United Veterans Council of Santa Clara County, Inc.
P.O. Box 26517
San Jose, CA 95115-6517
(408) 266-0596
New Castle, Delaware
Mr. Antonio Davila
Delaware Commission of Veterans Affairs
P.O. Box 1401
Old State House The Green
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 739-2792
Washington, D.C.
Mr. Rick Sowell
Veterans Day Parade Committee
38 V Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 232-6902
Atlanta, Georgia
Mr. Marvin Myers
Georgia Veterans Day Parade Association of Atlanta, Inc
5879 New Peachtree Road
Doraville, GA 30340
(770) 458-1985
New Orleans, Louisiana
Commodore Thomas J. Lupo, USNR, Ret.
Greater New Orleans Veterans Council, Inc.
Smith Lupo Center
145 Robert E. Lee Boulevard
New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 283-3421
Brunswick, Maryland
Honorable Thomas L. Smith
Mayor of Brunswick
20 A Street
Brunswick, MD 21716
(301) 834-7500
St. Louis, Missouri
Mr. Ralph Wiechert
St. Louis Regional Veteran’s Day Observance, Inc.
Soldiers Memorial
1315 Chesnut St.
St. Louis, MO, 63103
(314) 622-4550
Columbus, Ohio
Mr. William Miller
MILVETS
5941 Sachem Court
Dublin, OH, 43017
(614) 466-6942
Douglas County Oregon
Ms. Dodie Blessing
Douglas County Veterans Network
P.O. Box 100
Roseburg, OR 97470
(541) 440-1000 ext. 4159
Albany, Oregon
Ms. Patricia L. C. Mayfield
Veterans Commemoration Association
P.O. Box 2027
Lebanon, OR 97355
(541) 451-5799
Nashville, Tennessee
Mr. J.B. Loring
Sr. Davidson County Veterans Coordinating Council
3231 Knobview Drive
Nashville, TN, 37214
(615) 885-0780
Bonham, Texas
Mr. Dwayne Vaughan
Voluntary Service
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
1201 East Ninth Street
Bonham, TX 75418-4091
(903) 583-6282
Auburn, Washington
Honorable Chuck Booth
Mayor of Auburn
25 West Main
Auburn, WA 98001-4998
(206) 931-3043
Port Angeles, Washington
Lieutenant M. P. Rother
U.S. Coast Guard Group Public Affairs Officer
Port Angeles, WA 98362-1150
(360) 457-2227
Vancouver, Washington
Mr. Jerry Bloss
2003 N.E. 185th Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98684
(360) 735-4975
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Mr. Dean Marsolek
Veterans Day Parade Chairman
AMVETS
AMVET Post #60 HQ
2690 South 8th Street
Milwaukee, WI 53215
(414) 481-7241
The committee also has sent a variety of materials to state and civic organizations and to more than 107,000 schools encouraging greater awareness of and involvement in Veterans Day.
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Reporters and media outlets with questions or comments should contact the Office of Media Relations at vapublicaffairs@va.gov
Veterans with questions about their health care and benefits (including GI Bill). Questions, updates and documents can be submitted online.
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