(Richmond) The 68th annual Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony will be held Monday, November 11, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond.

Members of the public and especially military veterans and their families are invited and encouraged to attend this ceremony to honor and celebrate all men and women who have served in America’s armed forces.

General Gary M. Brito, Commanding General, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Joint Base Langley-Eustis, will be the keynote speaker. Virginia War Memorial Director Dr. Clay Mountcastle will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The program also includes remarks from Virginia Adjutant General Major General James W. Ring, a tribute to Virginia’s Blue Star families and the announcement of the winners of the Virginia War Memorial’s 2024 Veterans Day Student Essay Contest.

There will also be a special performance by Virginia Opry performers, Gentlemen South. Additional music will be provided by the Virginia National Guard 29th Division Band.

The mission of the Virginia War Memorial is to honor, remember and celebrate all veterans 365 days each year, but Veterans Day holds special significance” said Memorial Director Dr. Clay Mountcastle. “With nearly 700,000 veterans plus their family members calling Virginia their home, the Commonwealth has one of the largest number of veterans per population of any state. When we say, Virginia is for Veterans, we really mean it.”

The Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony will be held outdoors rain or shine in the Memorial’s E. Bruce Heilman Amphitheater. Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 10:30 a.m. to be seated. Admission to the Virginia War Memorial and the ceremony is free and parking is available in the Memorial’s surface lot and underground deck and on nearby streets.

The Memorial’s grounds and exhibit halls will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. for visitors.

For those that cannot attend in person, the Commonwealth’s Veterans Day Ceremony will also be broadcast live on WTVR CBS6.1 and 6.3 television in Richmond and livestreamed on WTVR.com.

The Virginia War Memorial is located at 621 South Belvidere Street, Richmond, VA 23220. For more information, please visit www.vawarmemorial.org or www.dvs.virginia.gov or telephone 804.786-2060.