Your guide to 2024 Veterans Day activities around Peoria: Parades, ceremonies and more

Unlike Memorial Day, which is a day to remember and honor military personnel who died in the service of their country, Veterans Day is a time to thank all veterans for their service, sacrifice and contributions to national security. The holiday always falls on November 11, the date World War I ended. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day.

Here are some Peoria-area events that will occur on or around Veterans Day, which falls on Monday this year.

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Saturday’s events

• East Peoria: East Peoria VFW Post 2078 is hosting the city’s 93rd annual Veterans Parade at 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. This year’s parade will feature an air show by the Lima Lima Flight Team consisting of four Navy pilots.

• Pekin: Pekin Community High School District 303 will place flags at Lakeview Cemetery on Nov. 9. The flags will fly at the cemetery until Nov. 16.

Monday’s events

• Marquette Heights: Georgetowne Middle at 51 Yates Road, Marquette Heights will host a Veterans Day celebration Nov. 11. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will include a coffee and cake social, a Veterans Day program, and a roll call of veterans.

• Chillicothe: St Edward’s Catholic School at 1221 N. Fifth Street, Chillicothe will hold a Veterans Day celebration from 8 to 11 a.m. on Nov. 11. The program will include a veteran uniform display, Veterans Day cards and crafts, a flag-folding ceremony, and a fitness event. The City of Chillicothe will host a Veterans Day event at the Chillicothe Veterans Memorial, 1619 N. Santa Fe Avenue.

• Peoria: Peoria’s annual Veterans Day Parade kicks off at 10 a.m. Nov. 11 at William Kumpf Boulevard and Monroe Street in Downtown Peoria. The parade will continue on Adams Street, then will turn left towards Hamilton Boulevard. and conclude at the World War I and World War II monuments at the Peoria County Courthouse.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Veterans Day 2024 activities in Peoria, Illinois: Parades, activities