White Plains Veterans Day Ceremony Set for November 11
The City of White Plains will hold its annual Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in the Veterans Memorial Garden behind City Hall at 255 Main Street.
The ceremony is coordinated by the City of White Plains Office of the Mayor in partnership with the Mayor’s Veterans Committee and the Department of Recreation & Parks.
The municipal observance, maintained for more than two decades, recognizes the service, dedication and sacrifices of American military veterans.
Vietnam Veteran to Deliver Keynote
The keynote speaker will be Matthew Palazola, a U.S. Army veteran drafted in 1968 who served with the 299th Combat Engineer Company in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.
Palazola reached the rank of Specialist Five (E-5) and completed his active military service in Germany. Following his military career, he earned degrees in respiratory therapy and healthcare administration.
He subsequently spent nearly 40 years in leadership positions at White Plains Hospital, retiring in 2022.
Ceremony Program and Public Access
The Boy Scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, with musical performances by the Highlands Middle School Band and Westchester Choral Society.
The White Plains Police and Fire Departments will present a joint Color Guard carrying the National Colors. Municipal firefighters will also perform the Ringing of the Bell, recognizing the holiday’s origins in Armistice Day.
Attendees can enter the Veterans Memorial Garden through the City Hall municipal parking lot or E.J. Conroy Drive.
Veterans Day Historical Background
Veterans Day originated with the armistice of November 11, 1918, marking the end of World War I hostilities. Congress formally renamed the observance Veterans Day in 1954, expanding its recognition to American veterans of all conflicts.
The holiday honors people who served in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime or peacetime, reflecting the purpose of White Plains’ annual ceremony.
Municipal administrative offices, local public schools and selected public services will follow holiday operating schedules on November 11.
