AMU Military

What to Do in Washington DC on Veterans Day 2014

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By Rachel A. Adler
Social Communities Coordinator for American Military University

More than 800,000 people are expected to salute America’s veterans at the National Mall tomorrow.

Many will attend “The Concert for Valor,” a free, three-hour Veterans Day concert sponsored by HBO, Starbucks and Chase. It starts at 7 p.m. Eastern and runs until about 10 p.m., but spots on the Mall are first-come, first-served. The Mall opens at 10 a.m., so strategize as you see fit (but you can’t camp overnight).

A special viewing stage will accommodate veterans, active-duty service members, and their families, and members of the military are encouraged to wear their colors.

Can’t make it to the concert? HBO will air it live tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Eastern. You don’t have to be an HBO subscriber to watch, because the channel will be unlocked for the show.  Follow along on Twitter with the hashtag #ConcertForValor, and add your #CivilianSalute to these famous names honoring America’s heroes.

If you’re visiting Washington D.C. for Veterans Day, here are some important tips, as well as suggestions on where to go before and after the concert. Descriptions of the following activities comes from their respective websites.

Travel

It’s important to look to WMATA for information regarding travel. Make sure you know what not to bring while traveling. Plan your travels accordingly. Note: All stations will be open except Smithsonian.

View the map here: http://inthecapital.streetwise.co/2014/11/10/veterans-day-2014-concert-washington-dc/

Veterans Day Observations (all times Eastern):

Arlington National Cemetery
November 11, 2014, 11 a.m. Across the Potomac from Washington at the west end of the Memorial Bridge, Arlington, Virginia. (703) 607-8000. This is the national Veterans Day service with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Seating in the amphitheater is limited, so visitors should plan to arrive at least a half-hour before the ceremony.

American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial
November 11, 2014, 10-11 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. 150 Washington Ave SW, Washington, DC. The new memorial will host a free ranger talk about the sacrifices, struggles and triumphs experienced by veterans disabled while serving America.

Women In Military Service For America Memorial
November 11, 2014,  3:00 p.m. Located at the Gateway to Arlington National Cemetery.  The ceremony is free and open to the public and will include formal military honors, a keynote address, veterans’ remarks and a wreath- laying.  “In a Heart Beat,” a photography exhibition by Therese Hughes, showcases the strength, courage and humanity of 90 women who have served our country between World War II to the War on Terror. The exhibit will be on display until September 2015.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
November 11, 2014, 1 p.m. Constitution Avenue and Henry Bacon Dr. NW, Washington, DC. Color guard, speakers and a wreath-laying ceremony pay tribute to all who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War and America’s other conflicts.

Vietnam Women’s Memorial
November 11, 2014, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. Constitution Avenue and Henry Bacon Drive, NW Washington, DC. (301) 314-8505. Vietnam-era veterans and the children of veterans tell stories “in their own voices” about their experiences. There will also be stories featuring soldiers of the current struggles in Iraq and Afghanistan and other locations around the world.

World War II Memorial
November 11, 2014, 9 a.m. 17th Street, between Constitution and Independence Avenues, NW Washington, DC. (202) 619-7222. Wreath-laying ceremony.

Navy Memorial
November 11, 2014. 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC. (202)737-2300. The Naval District of Washington will lay a wreath at the Lone Sailor Statue in commemoration of Veterans Day. As part of the Memorial’s “Authors on Deck” book lecture series, author Patrick K. O’Donnell will present his latest work, First SEALs. The presentation begins at noon.

Air Force Memorial
November 11, 2014, 11 a.m. One Air Force Memorial Drive, Arlington, VA. Wreath-laying ceremony and a two-minute moment of silence will be observed to commemorate those members of the U.S. armed forces who were killed during war.

Museums:

The nation’s capital is full of rich history, museum, estates and parks. Remember that the Smithsonian Metro station will be closed tomorrow. Plan accordingly.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate, Museum and Gardens
Mount Vernon welcomes active, former and retired military with free admission on Veterans Day to experience special programming for the day. The estate salutes veterans on November 11 with a wreath-laying at Washington’s tomb and a patriotic community concert by barbershop chorus the Harmony Heritage Singers at 11 a.m. and a performance by the United States Air Force String Orchestra at 3 p.m.

National Museum of American History
The Smithsonian Institution’s cache of Americana displays, The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, features a history of America’s military from the French and Indian Wars to the present conflict in the Middle East, exploring the impact of conflict on citizen soldiers, their families and communities. See George Washington’s sword and scabbard in person, and see the chairs used by Generals Lee and Grant during the surrender at Appomattox in 1865.

The Newseum
The museum devoted to the First Amendment has numerous exhibits that intersect with Veterans Day themes. Among them Blood and Ink, an investigation of coverage of the Civil War, and the Journalists Memorial, a tribute to international reporters who have lost their lives covering conflict or murdered as a result of coverage. Military service members will have free admission to the Newseum on Veterans Day.

National Museum of American Jewish Military History
November 11, 2014, 3 p.m. 1811 R St NW, Washington, DC. Dedication ceremony celebrating the opening of the new exhibit, “Jews in the American Military,” which chronicles Jewish participation in all armed conflicts of the United States. Explore where, when, and how Jews served in our nation’s military from stories, letters and memorabilia donated by Jewish veterans and their families. The exhibit includes artifacts such as a brain surgery kit from the Civil War, a diary from a Jewish POW, and a Torah carried by a Jewish army chaplain on the Burma Trail.

Sports:

Hockey: Face Off for Valor, USA Warriors vs. NCR Hockey – November 11 at Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. Enter through the press entrance on 6th & G. Puck drops at 1:55pm, and admittance is free.

The USA Warrior Ice Hockey Program provides those wounded in defense of the United States and those who have physical disabilities incurred during service to the United States with a recreational, therapeutic experience through the sport of ice hockey. The NCR Joint Military Hockey Team is a group of active, reserve and retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces who play hockey to raise money for charity.

Galas:

Comfort for America’s Uniformed Services (CAUSE)
A night of renewing hope and lifting spirits of wounded service members and their families. This event includes a reception, silent auction, dinner and several guest speakers raising awareness of the importance of recreation, relaxation and resiliency during the healing process of wounded service members and their families.

Free or Discounted Entertainment (year-round):

 

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