Miami Beach to Host 13th Annual Veterans Day Celebration

(Miami Beach, FL) Nov 11, 2021 -

Join the City of Miami Beach for the return of the 13th annual Veterans Day parade and celebration at 11:11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 11. The event features veteran and military groups, marching bands and community organizations along iconic Ocean Drive beginning at Fifth Street.

The start time of the event coincides with the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month originally intended to commemorate the armistice ending World War I. The holiday was later expanded to honor American veterans of all wars.

During World War II, the beaches and hotels in the City of Miami Beach served as a home base for military troops. “Many of the service members fell in love with our city and wound up settling here after the war,” noted Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion organized parades for more than 50 years to salute the troops who sacrificed so much to defend our nation’s freedom. The City of Miami Beach has continued this tradition for more than a decade, even holding a virtual celebration in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic made it impractical to hold the usual celebration.

The largest parade of the day in South Florida takes route on Ocean Drive from Fifth to 14 streets. At noon, the festivities move to Lummus Park as the All Veteran Parachute Team takes to the skies over South Beach for a demonstration. The event continues with a family picnic in Lummus Park and a wreath-laying ceremony.

Parade participation has grown from approximately 50 people to more than 2,000 over the years – including students, organizations, businesses, military groups and public officials. The program includes the Miami Beach Police and Fire Department Honor Guards’ presentation of the colors; a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem and a moment of silence in honor of our First World War Armistice Day tradition. There will also be addresses by military officials from Southern Command and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Other activities include MBPD Honor Guard’s 21-gun salute and a performance by a Taps bugler.

The event is made possible by generous sponsorships from T-Mobile, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, EASY 93.1 (WFEZ-FM, Gabriel South Beach, Meet Dalia, Shake Shack, Operation Gratitude and South Beach Hotel Group.

As a designated City of Kindness, Miami Beach has partnered with Operation Gratitude to invite attendees to write letters of gratitude and encouragement for deployed service members, new recruits and first responders as well as veterans who have fought for our nation’s freedom. Miami Beach is a U.S. designated site for the observance of Veterans Day.

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