How To Honor War Heroes On Veterans Day 2020 In Douglasville

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Veterans Day, a federal holiday, is held yearly on Nov. 11. It honors all American veterans and military.

Douglasville City Hall, City Hall Annex, Parks & Recreation, and Municipal Court and Records will be closed Wednesday in observance of Veterans Day. The Douglasville Police Department will maintain normal operations. City Sanitation services will have a modified schedule and information is available on the City website.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Douglas County Veterans Day Lighted Parade has been canceled. However, a small ribbon-cutting ceremony — with plenty of social distancing — is scheduled Wednesday at 8 a.m. to celebrate completion of the Deer Lick Park tennis courts. The public is invited but must pre-register by emailing dctv23@co.douglas.ga.us.

HISTORY OF VETERANS DAY

Veterans Day is somewhat related to, and sometimes mistaken for, Memorial Day, the federal holiday on the final Monday of May dedicated to those who have died while serving the United States in war.

Originally called Armistice Day, the November holiday was created at the end of World War I to recognize those who fought in “the war to end all wars,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Its origin is tied to the armistice — a temporary end of hostilities — between the Allied nations and Germany signed in France on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

It became Veterans Day in 1954, shortly after the end of the Korean War and less than a decade after World War II, after various veterans service organizations urged Congress to encompass veterans of all wars in their honor.

With some ceremonies, parades and presentations either canceled or altered in 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis, restaurants and other businesses will continue to show their appreciation for veterans and active military members.

Applebee’s, Bob Evans and Chili’s Grill and Bar are among the national restaurant chains offering free or discounted meals for veterans on Nov. 11, and 7-Eleven is offering a free cup of coffee or Big Gulp. Other places, such as Golden Corral and Eat'n Park, have offers extended throughout November.