Cornelius and Huntersville are planning free Veterans Day observances on separate dates, with a Cornelius ceremony Nov. 11 and a Huntersville parade and ceremony Nov. 14.
Cornelius: Wednesday, Nov. 11
According to Cornelius Parks & Recreation, the town and American Legion Post 86 will host their annual program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Veterans Monument at Rotary Plaza and the Town Hall lawn, 21445 Catawba Ave.
Retired Army veteran Darrell Bonaparte will give the keynote address. The program honors veterans and current service members, with light refreshments after the ceremony.
Huntersville: Saturday, Nov. 14
The town’s 11th annual parade starts at 9:30 a.m., followed by an 11 a.m. ceremony at Veterans Park, 201 Huntersville-Concord Road, according to Huntersville’s event announcement. The town, American Legion Post 321 and Auxiliary Unit 321 are hosts.
Veterans Park will display a replica Declaration of Independence and 26 historic American flags as part of the nation’s 250th-anniversary celebration.
Marine Corps veteran John Wilkins is grand marshal, Lake Norman Publications reported. The Marine Corps League’s Bruce Larson Detachment 1242 selected Wilkins, whose service ran from 1975 to 2005 and included Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.
Huntersville traffic and parking
From 7:30 to 11 a.m., North Main Street closes between Bigham Street and Huntersville-Concord Road.
Additional closures from 9 to 11 a.m. cover North Main from Bigham to Greenway Avenue; Greenway Street from Main to North Old Statesville Road; NC 115 between Mount Holly-Huntersville Road and Sherwood Drive; and Gilead Road/Huntersville-Concord Road between Sherwood Drive and Main Street.
The town lists free parking at Veterans Park, the Town Center deck, the South Main Street lot, the Arts & Cultural Center lot, Holbrook Park and the Downtown Greenway lot. Admission and activities are also free.
For parade participation details, contact events manager Jennifer Mackaman at 704-766-2213 or [email protected].
