Brookline Veterans Day 2019: What's Open, What To Know

BROOKLINE, MA — This year Veterans Day, a national holiday established in 1926 to honor men and women who have served in the military, falls on a Monday. As with previous years, it will be held at the War Monument next to Town Hall - though two years ago the ceremony was moved indoors on account of the cold temperature.

Monday the temperatures are supposed to get up to the low 50s.

Brookline Veterans Services Officer Bill McGroarty, Commander, American Legion Post #11 Elmon Hendrickson, Commander, Veterans of Foreign War, Stephen F. Rutledge Post #864 John Tynan and Brookline resident and West Point graduate will all preside over the day.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day marks the armistice, or a temporary cessation of hostilities, between Allied nations and Germany during the first world war that led to the end of the war. In November of the following year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day in recognition of the cessation of hostilities and the Armistice on WWI which occurred on “the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month” in 1918.

However, Armistice Day was originally set aside to honor veterans of World War 1, but following World War 2 in 1954, Congress amended the act of 1938 by striking out the word Armistice and replacing it with the word Veterans. President Dwight D. Eisenhower later issued a Veterans Day Proclamation which stated:

"In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."

Here's a look at the day's schedule. Scroll down for a short list of what's open and closed:

If you know of specific businesses that are open or closed, help out your fellow neighbors by telling us in the comment section!

What's Closed Monday

• Public Schools
• Most banks will be closed to observe the holiday
• Parking ticket window at the Police Station
• Town Hall

• Post offices
• Library
• Parking is free

What's open

• The following will be open at the business owner's discretion

• Restaurants
• Convenience Stores
• Liquor stores
• Retail stores (check with your local retailers first)
• Both the MBTA and the commuter rail will operate on a regular schedule. THE RIDE Service will also operate on schedule. View the schedules here >>>

What about trash?

Brookline trash and recycling pickup is on a regular schedule (no holiday delays); all those on the town's trash service should put their containers out for pickup on their regularly scheduled pickup day.

In case you missed this Veteran's story: Remains of Brookline Airman Lost in WWII Come Home

Photos by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff