Veterans Day ceremonies will be held Friday, Nov. 11, at 10:45 a.m. at Floral Park Veterans Memorial Park, located on the corner of Tulip and Plainfield Avenues, conducted by the Floral Park American Legion Post.

Members of the American Legion, veterans and members of their families are invited to assemble at Jameson's Restaurant, located on 157 Tulip Avenue, for coffee at 9:45 a.m. The group will then assemble on the Atlantic Avenue Extension and march down Tulip Avenue to Veterans Memorial Park. Step-off will be at 10:40 a.m.

Members of the American Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion will participate, according to Past Commander Jim MacDonald, Veterans Day chairman.

Post Commander Peter Fleig, 1st Vice Commander Paul Cain, 2nd Vice Commander Joe Reale, 3rd Vice Commander Gary Heck, Sergeant-at-Arms Ed Chapelle and Chaplain Jim Reid will speak. Taps will be played by Chris Murray and Chris Catalano, Floral Park Memorial High School seniors and band members. Boy Scout Troop 678 will present the memorial wreath and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Katie Hanson will sing the National Anthem.

Also participating in the ceremonies are American Legion Auxiliary Vice President Margaret MacDonald and Auxiliary Post President and former Floral Park Mayor Ann Corbett.

According to Floral Park American Legion Commander Fleig, "The community is invited to join us at Veterans Memorial Park for this solemn occasion when we remember all past and present veterans who have served our country over the years and remember the sacrifices they have made to preserve and protect our way of life.

"It is fitting that we pause to remember those, the vast majority of whom were citizen soldiers from all walks of life, who gave their time, effort and often more, in sacrifice, to serve their country at the times of its greatest need."

This date has historical significance since the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month was set aside over 80 years ago as the moment of armistice for World War I, to end what was at that time the greatest military trial that mankind had ever endured, according to Fleig.

"Since that time," Fleig said, "even more horrible events have taken place. But what has remained unchanged was the willingness of ordinary citizens to answer a call to duty which acknowledged a debt they felt to the liberty they had enjoyed due to the efforts of those who had served before them. We also honor those who are currently on active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan or serving elsewhere protecting the freedom we hold so dear. We especially hope that the families of those away on active duty in the military will join us for the march and ceremonies since those who support them from home also make tremendous sacrifices for all of us."

The Floral Park American Legion was founded in 1919 and promotes good citizenship and patriotism and seeks to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation, to promote peace and goodwill on earth, to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy and to help veterans and their families in time of need or sorrow.

The Post conducts Flag Day, Veterans Day and Memorial Day ceremonies and provides awards to local school children, supports local charitable and youth organizations and helps veterans and their families in time of need or sorrow.