Veterans Day events around the Tri-Lakes
Debbie Bissonette receives a flag in honor of her husband, Doug Bissonette, from American Legion Post 326 member Stuart Spotts at the legion home on Monday. (Enterprise photo — Grace McIntyre)
Communities in and around the Tri-Lakes region are set to commemorate Veterans Day on Tuesday. The federal holiday recognizes the sacrifices of all veterans, living or deceased.
Originally known as Armistice Day, the holiday first commemorated the day when World War I ended in 1918. Since then, it has been expanded to be a day for veterans of all U.S. wars, and veterans who served in peacetime. The branches of the U.S. military include the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy and Space Force.
Veterans Day is celebrated on the 11th day of November, regardless of which day of the week it falls on any given year. That’s because the armistice, which the holiday stems from was signed at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918, bringing a formal end to World War I fighting.
On June 1, 1954, then-President Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower signed the law that changed the holiday’s name and expanded its commemoration. Eisenhower served as the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in World War II, whose forces stormed the beaches of Normandy and subsequently liberated Western Europe from the Nazi regime as allied Soviet forces closed in on Germany from the east.
There are several Veterans Day events planned locally this year, with details below. For the outdoor events, daytime temperatures are expected to remain in the upper 20s, with cloudy skies and scattered snow showers. The snow isn’t expected to be heavy, with accumulations forecasted to remain under an inch, according to the National Weather Service.
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Saranac Lake
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The Saranac Lake Veterans Day ceremony will take place Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Harrietstown Town Hall in the downstairs auditorium, according to VFW Auxiliary 3357 President Gina Rabideau Norton. A reception at the town hall will follow.
There will also be a free community skating event in honor of Veterans Day at the Saranac Lake Civic Center from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m. Skate rentals are available at the civic center’s pro shop for $5.
RiverTrail Beerworks will offer a free meal for all veterans and active service members on Veterans Day. Its hours are 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Alcoholic beverages and gratuity are not included.
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Lake Placid
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The Lake Placid American Legion Post 326 will observe Veterans Day by lowering and raising flags in honor of local veterans who are no longer with us and all who have honorably, unselfishly served and sacrificed for our country so we may enjoy our freedoms as Americans.
Six flags will be retired, which have been flying since Memorial Day, and six new flags will be raised and flown until the next Memorial Day. Retired flags will be presented to the family members in attendance. A wreath will be placed at the Legion’s Memorial Monument by the American Legion Auxiliary.
The ceremonies will begin at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Adirondack Community Church and the World War I Memorial, where a flag honoring Tom Woodman will be lowered, and a flag honoring Daniel Lundin will be raised. At 9:50 a.m., a ceremony will be held at Elderwood of Uihlein at Lake Placid, lowering a flag honoring Larry Burdo and raising a flag in honor of Bruce Colon. At 10 a.m., a ceremony will be held at Adirondack Health Lake Placid, where a flag will be lowered honoring Robert Knox and one will be raised in honor of Frederick Reed.
At 11 a.m., the Veterans Day Parade will start at the intersection of Main Street and Saranac Avenue, continuing down Main Street to the American Legion home. There, a closing ceremony will be held where flags will be lowered honoring Donald Dew, Thomas McConnel and Arthur Jubin. Flags will be raised at the Legion home honoring Jimmy Hadjis, Favor Smith II and Rik Cassidy.
The American Legion Post 326 Auxiliary will place a wreath at the Legion’s Memorial Monument in honor of all Veterans. The Auxiliary and the Sons of the Legion will be hosting a luncheon immediately following the closing ceremony.
All veterans and others are encouraged to join The American Legion in the parade. In addition to veterans, the parade will also feature, the Lake Placid High School Marching Band, the Boy and Girl Scouts, the Homeward Bound Veterans and others. The community, friends and families are invited to attend any and all ceremonies, the parade and the luncheon.
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Tupper Lake
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The Tupper Lake Veterans Day ceremony will take place on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Tupper Lake Middle-High School auditorium, 25 Chaney Ave. It was originally supposed to take place at the Veterans War Memorial on Park Street, but was moved indoors due to the weather. The ceremony is expected to last about 30 minutes. There will be inspiring speeches, a presentation of colors and a moment of silence to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This year’s keynote speaker is retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant Kimberly L. Kopp. The high school band will play patriotic music and wreaths will be laid.
Afterward, a group will head to the Tupper Lake Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, formerly Mercy Living Center, around 1 p.m. to honor the veterans currently living there.
At 3 p.m., Tupper Arts will host an opening reception for an exhibition on the uniforms worn by members of the various military branches over the years, in partnership with the Tupper Lake History Museum. The uniforms, which are part of the history museum’s collection, will be displayed on mannequins at Tupper Arts, 106 Park St. Refreshments will be served. For those unable to make it to the reception, the exhibit will remain on display during Tupper Arts’ regular hours until Sunday, Nov. 23.
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Bloomingdale
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St. Armand’s Veterans Memorial Park will be holding a Veterans Day ceremony at 2 p.m. Tueaday, located next to the St. Armand’s Town Hall. The event is hosted by the St. Armand Veterans Memorial Park Task Force, and refreshments will be served in the town hall following the ceremony. The commemoration recognizes all the veterans who served in various conflicts from St. Armand’s township. The park was completed late last year. For more information on the effort to build the park, visit tinyurl.com/4kapcx3x.
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Keene
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American Legion Marcy Post 1312 will conduct its traditional Veterans Day ceremony in Keene beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Veterans Monument Park along Norton Cemetery Road in Keene.
The ceremony includes an honor guard, rifle squad, music and some brief remarks pertinent to the day that thank and honor all who have served and are serving in the armed forces, according to Tom Both, the post commander.
The ceremony is open to the public and will go on regardless of the weather.




