Miami Area Continues Salute To Veterans

MIAMI BEACH, FL — More Veterans Day celebrations are planned around the Miami area on Monday following Sunday's parachute jump and parade in Miami Beach.

You'll find events in Palmetto Bay, Miami Gardens and Miami on Monday. Here are some of the activities that will be held around our area:

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Miami-Dade Schools Closed Monday
All Miami-Dade County schools will be closed Monday in honor of Veterans Day. Region and district offices will also be closed. Classes will reopen on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

IHOP
As a thank you for the extraordinary commitment of our nation’s heroes, IHOP is serving a free Red, White, and Blueberry Pancake Combo to veterans and active duty military on Monday, Nov. 12 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Missing Man Table
Nov. 11-14 at the West Campus, 3800 NW 115th Ave. Also known as the Fallen Comrade Table, it is a place of honor set up in military dining facilities of the U.S. armed forces during occasions such as service branch birthday balls. It is in memory of fallen, missing, or imprisoned military service-members.

Special Thank You
Nov. 14, 12 p.m. Kendall Campus, 11011 SW 104th St. An acknowledgment of the sacrifices of veterans and currently serving military personnel. Offering a thank you for the service of veterans.

Veterans Day Breakfast In Palmetto Bay
The special appreciation assembly and breakfast takes place at 7:45 a.m. at the Palmer Trinity School. The VIP guest speaker is Col. Marshall Ecklund.

Veterans Day Lunch In Miami Gardens
The Veterans Day lunch takes place on Monday from noon to 2 p.m. at the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex Auditorium, 3000 NW 199th Street. RSVP on Eventbrite or contact Kevin Brown 786-376-7012.

The annual Miami Beach tribute to our nation's veterans on Sunday included a family picnic and military fly-overs starting on the 11th hour of the 11th day at the 11th minute. For civilians, that was 11:11 a.m.

"During WW II, the beaches and hotels in the city of Miami Beach served as a home base for military troops," according to Miami Beach officials. "For over 50 years, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion organized this parade as a salute to the troops for all that they've sacrificed to defend our nation's freedom. For the past nine years, the city of Miami Beach has continued this tradition."

The parade ran along Ocean Drive from 5 Street to 14 Street. Sunday's event featured a daredevil parachute jump.

"Many South Beach hotels were used as housing for the troops that would march and exercise on the beach, golf club and streets on regulation drills," according to Miami Beach officials. "The county causeway was renamed the MacArthur Causeway in honor of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. After the war, many of these veterans with 'sand in their shoes' made Miami Beach their permanent home."

The parade has grown over the years from about 50 people to more than 2,000 and includes students, organizations, businesses, military groups and elected officials. Sunday's parade featured floats, veteran and military groups, school marching bands, cars and pageant queens.

Presenting pponsor was the Miami Beach Medical Group while the parachute sponsor was T-Mobile. Partners included Coca-Cola, Miami Beach Suncare, Y-100, Atlantic Broadband, Sysco, RXBAR, Clevelander South Beach & Operation Gratitude.

"Miami Beach Medical Group is proud to be the official sponsor for a fourth straight year to such an important event for our community," said Miami Beach Medical Group Chief Operating Officer Jose Sanchez. "As leading healthcare providers in Miami-Dade County and as one of the largest independent medical groups in Miami Beach, we give our thanks to the service provided by each of our veterans and the sacrifices that not only they have made, but those made by their families as well. We are excited to continue our partnership with Miami Beach and the veteran community for many years to come."

As a designated City of Kindness, Miami Beach partnered with Operation Gratitude to invite attendees to write letters of gratitude and encouragement for deployed service members, new recruits and first responders as well as veterans who fought for our nation’s freedom overseas.

The city of Miami held its celebration on Saturday.

Image courtesy city of Miami Beach