“Houston Salutes American Heroes” Veterans Day Celebration

HOUSTON - The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center will partner with the City of Houston for the annual “Houston Salutes American Heroes” Veterans Day celebration on Sunday, November 11, 2012.

The annual “Houston Salutes American Heroes” festivities will kick off on the steps of City Hall at 10 a.m. with the third annual AT&T Veterans Job Fair and second annual Walgreens Veterans Health Fair, which is open until 2 p.m. A moment of silence will be observed at 11 a.m., followed by the 11th hour ceremony in memory of the WWI signing of the Armistice. The American Heroes parade will begin at 12:30 p.m. at Lamar and Bagby, proceeding north on Smith, east on Walker, south on Louisiana and ending at Dallas.

Bill Balleza, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and television anchor, will emcee the 11:00 a.m. ceremony. Colonel John Daniel, commander of the 147th Reconnaissance Wing, Texas Air National Guard, stationed at Ellington Joint Reserve Base, will serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal. Commissioner Jerry Patterson, with the Texas General Land Office and Texas Veteran’s Land Board, will serve as the keynote speaker for the event’s opening ceremony. Commissioner Patterson was born in Houston and graduated from Texas A&M University, Class of 1969. After volunteering for duty in Vietnam, Patterson was later designated as a Naval Flight Officer and served in Marine fighter squadrons until his retirement from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993. Five consecutive generations of Patterson's family have served our nation in time of war.

Free parking is available from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the Theater District Parking, Tranquility Garage, entrances #2 & #5 only. For more information, please visit www.houstonspecialevents.org.