Veterans to parade through Shelbyville tonight

Ed Magee, left, of the Marine Corps League presents a certificate of appreciation to Gene Williams for Williams' work in bringing the Moving Wall, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, to Shelbyville. The surprise presentation was made Monday at Dabora Inc., where Williams is employed. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Although the treaty that officially ended World War I wasn't signed until June 1919, actual fighting stopped seven months earlier, when a ceasefire, or armistice, took effect on Nov. 11, 1918 -- the 11th day of the 11th month -- at 11 a.m.

A year later, President Woodrow Wilson declared that Nov. 11 was to be celebrated as Armistice Day, in honor of those who fought and in celebration of the outcome. Armistice Day was formalized as a holiday in 1926. In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War had required service from new generations, the name of the observance was changed to Veterans Day. It is still an opportunity to honor those who served.

Bedford County's Veterans Day Parade will begin at 6 this evening.

The parade is sponsored by the United Veterans Council, a joint venture of the local posts or chapters of the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The parade will take the normal local parade route. It will form along Lane Parkway, proceed south on Cannon Boulevard to Holland Street, east on Holland to the square, north on Main to Madison, and east on Madison to Celebration Drive (Calsonic Arena entrance).

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Most local elementary and middle schools were scheduled to have Veterans Day observances today, including Cascade Elementary, Community Elementary, Eakin Primary, East Side Primary, Harris Middle, LibertySchool and Southside Primary.

ON THE WEB

A history of Veterans Day:

www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp