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Best Veterans Day Events In The Bay Area

Veterans and active duty servicemen list
Veterans and active duty servicemen list (credit: TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images)

The best Veterans Day events in the Bay Area are happening near you with patriotic honors to those who served throughout history. Celebrations happen on land and sea, with bands playing on Treasure Island or at the lovely Lesher Center for the Arts and more, with American flags waving. Veterans Day is officially Monday, November 11, 2013. Show your appreciation for men and women who served to keep America safe and free by attending one of these events.

Veterans Day Music Festival
Treasure Island
401 California Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94130
www.mcarrillonet.wix.com
Date: Nov. 9, 2013 at 11:45 a.m.

The Veterans Day Music Festival on Treasure Island is held to thank all veterans for years of service. This family event is for all ages and the festival benefits veterans. Eighteen bands will play for free. Veterans, military and their families may receive community services and information from community partners on site until 4 p.m. Bands include Scissors for Lefty, Gentlemen's Heroes, Sugar Candy Mountain, The Rogers, Sweet Hayah, The Shants, Darkside Shine, The Institution, The Buzz, Ash Reiter, Dedications, Uncle, Ginger and the Jeffri, RedEye Poet, Redshift, Andrew Castro, Sun Hop Fat and Planet Booty.

Veterans Day Celebration in Alameda County
Hayward City Hall
777 B St.
Hayward, CA 94541
(510) 583-4000
www.ci.hayward.ca.usDate: Nov. 11, 2013 11 a.m.

Alameda County's annual Veterans Day ceremony will bring out some of the country's finest war veterans including key note speaker, Chief Pharmacist Mate David Lee Holly Sr. who served in the Korean War. Holly is one of the survivors of the 1950 sinking of the U.S.S. Benevolence just four miles outside of San Francisco Bay Harbor, and at age 81, Holly is a college student. The ceremony's master of ceremonies will be Conway Jones Jr., a retired Air Force Captain and local Alameda County resident. Refreshments will be offered before and after the ceremony at City Hall.

The Richmond Museum Veterans Day Ceremony
U.S.S. Red Oak Victory
1337 Canal Blvd., Berth 6A
Richmond, CA 94804
(510) 237-2933
www.ssredoakvictory.com

Date: Nov. 11, 2013 at 10 a.m. Bell ringing at 11 a.m.

The Richmond Museum Association event includes a dedication and memorial with the ringing of the bell in memory at 11 a.m. Participants board the ship the U.S.S. Red Oak Victory. Each participant receives a flower upon boarding since the on-board ceremony includes the tossing of carnations and a flower wreath by our veteran volunteers into the bay from the U.S.S. Red Oak Victory. After the ceremony, live music and lunch follow in the rigger's loft. Note that visitors can find the ship at a location different from the museum.

San Leandro American Legion Post 117 Celebration
San Leandro Senior Community Center
13909 E. 14th St.
San Leandro, CA 94577
www.sanleandro.orgDate: Nov. 11, 2013

San Leandro Post 117 of the American Legion hosts this year's event in San Leandro. Post Commander Richard Biddlecomb is coordinating and San Leandro Mayor Stephen Cassidy will say a few words. The day's program will include a welcome and introductions, guest speaker, Color Guard presentation of colors, presentation of service banners and a flag raising for the deceased. This year, the Legion honors Margaret Edmund, who was a nurse in WWII. She would have been 101 years old this year. Light refreshments will be served.

Walnut Creek Concert Band Veterans Day Program
Lesher Center for the Arts
1601 Civic Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 295-1400
www.walnutcreekband.orgDate: Nov. 11, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.

The Walnut Creek Concert Band performs at the lovely Lesher Center for the Arts in downtown Walnut Creek. This free, general admission Veterans Day Civic Ceremony requires a ticket. Community members comprise the patriotic band formed 25 years ago and the group welcomes new members. Harvey Benstein conducts and the program will include "The Star Spangled Banner;" "Pacem, A Hymn for Peace" by Robert Spittal; "Battle Hymn of the Republic" arranged by Sammy Nestico; "Armed Forces Salute" arranged by Lowden; and lastly, "Semper Fidelis" by John Philip Sousa. Walnut Creek offers many restaurants and bistros downtown as well as a lovely shaded park with a gazebo covered in roses.

Cindy Warner is a freelance writer and a San Francisco Bay Area native. Cindy has covered SF theater and opera for Examiner.com via her bicycle since January 2009. Check out her work on Examiner.com.

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