Veterans Day Events, Nov. 11

All local posts and chapters of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) are scheduling traditional Veterans Day ceremonies for this Saturday, Nov. 11. Several local businesses also are offering discounts and special invitations to veterans and their families.
Veterans Day has been celebrated in the United States since 1954. Prior to that the annual observance was called Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I. The cessation of aggression and war between Germany and the allies including the United States ended on the 11^th hour of the 11^th day of the 11^th month (Nov. 11).
Veterans Day is the day set aside to honor all American veterans, alive and dead which is distinct from Memorial Day in May which is set aside to remember only the fallen soldiers from all American wars.
Local celebrations this year will begin with a Veterans Day breakfast at the Villa Chanticleer in Healdsburg, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Healdsburg Sunrise. The keynote speaker will be Christina Olds, discussing her father Robin Olds, a World War II fighter pilot.
At 10 a.m. members of the American Legion Sotoyome Post 111 will lead a tribute in the Healdsburg Plaza with a flag ceremony and gun salute. The Sotoyome Post will then reconvene at 11 a.m. on the Town Green in Windsor for another public gathering. The Healdsburg post commander is Tim Madura.
In west county, the Gold Ridge VFW Post 3919 will assemble in the Sebastopol Veterans Memorial Hall at 11 a.m. for a ceremony and lunch. The hall is located at 282 High Street, now also home to the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. The Post commander is Lewis Spangler.
Saturday evening, Nov. 11, the William Russell Ledford VFW Post #293 of Cloverdale will meet with the Cloverdale American Legion Post #9862 for a concert and ceremony beginning at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Veterans Hall. The Healdsburg Community Band will perform.
Other Veterans Day gatherings are scheduled elsewhere in the county, including the annual parade in downtown Petaluma, beginning at 1 p.m.