This year, Alexandria will not be holding a Veterans Day Ceremony because of COVID-19 but there are still plenty of ways to honor and thank the veterans in our community.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon (3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy.) will be saluting veterans by offering free admission to all active duty, former, or retired military personnel on Nov. 11 between 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visitors can watch a ceremonial flag raising at the Texas Gate at 9 a.m., pick up a take-home craft kit for making your own American Revolution flag at Bowling Green between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. or visit George Washington’s grave to pay their respects.
The National Museum of the United States Army at Fort Belvoir (1775 Liberty Dr.) will be hosting its grand opening on Veterans Day 2020. A virtual ceremony will be available to watch on Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. The museum offers a variety of virtual programming and you can explore the museum’s exhibits on their website. While tickets for an in-person visit on Veterans Day are sold out, you can reserve your free, timed ticket for another date here.
The Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee has rescheduled their Veterans Day Ride for Nov. 22 due to rain in the forecast. Bicycle riders of all levels are invited on a free 12-mile bike ride to explore Alexandria’s numerous veteran memorials. Participants should bring a functioning bike, a helmet, water, a face covering and hand sanitizer and be prepared to observe social distancing. Riders will be asked to sign a waiver before the ride which will begin at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Ave.). Free tickets can be reserved here.
There are a number of veteran-related memorials and monuments in Alexandria. The Office of Historic Alexandria highlighted a few in their most recent newsletter:
Memorial Fountain is located at 315 N. Royal St. and honors those who served during the Revolutionary War.
Over 4,500 veterans, including 230 African Americans who served in the US Colored Troops during the Civil War, are buried at the Alexandria National Cemetery located at 1450 Wilkes St.
A sign to honor the contributions of African Americans during the Civil War is located on the grounds of Fort Ward Park (4301 W Braddock Rd.).
Two plaques located at Alexandria Union Station (110 Callahan Dr.) and the American Legion Post 24 (400 Cameron St.) honor Alexandrians who fought and died during WW1.
The plaza in front of the Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Ave.) is dedicated to Capt. Humberto “Rocky” Versace and 66 other Alexandrians who were killed during the Vietnam War.
Finally, Veteran’s Memorial Walkway at the corner of South Columbus and Wilkes Streets and the James Marx All Veteran’s Park ( 4725 Duke St.) are dedicated to the veterans of all wars.
As a thank you to the veterans in our community, consider supporting a few veteran-owned businesses right here in Alexandria.
Grab a coffee and crepe at Café du Soleil (215 S. Union St.) or enjoy dinner and wine from Sonoma Cellar (207 King St.) BrewFoodVA (Follow on Instagram @brewfoodva) will be serving up delicious food at Lost Boy Cider on Nov. 11 (317 Hooffs Run Dr.).