Waltham Veterans Day 2020: What To Know

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

But this year, amid the pandemic, Waltham will not mark Veterans Day in person at the Circle of Remembrance on Wednesday as it traditionally has.

"The City of Waltham is currently considered a “Red Community - High Risk,” which is not safe for gathering for our Veteran’s Day / Circle of Remembrance ceremonies," city officials said in a statement. "Therefore, the in-person event unfortunately needs to be canceled."

There will be a pre-taped ceremony including reading the names of the dedicated bricks the morning of the event broadcasted on Channel 8 and streamed online at wcac.org at 11 a.m.

Originally called Armistice Day, the 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.

7-Eleven is among the chains that are offering a free cup of coffee or Big Gulp to veterans for their service.

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

Jenna Fisher is a news reporter for Patch. Got a tip? She can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how .