INDIANAPOLIS — A full schedule events commemorating Veterans Day is returning to downtown Indianapolis Thursday, albeit with some last minute changes due to weather.
The Veterans Day Council of Indianapolis will host the Veterans Day Awards Breakfast and Veterans Day Service on Nov. 11. Last year, events were held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Veterans Day Parade was scheduled to return to the streets of downtown Indianapolis, but it was canceled Wednesday due to the forecast of rain, wind and potential lightning on Thursday.
"The safety and health of everyone involved is our utmost concern, especially our veterans and high school student marching bands, as well as the many volunteers and spectators," the council wrote in a release announcing the changes.
The day starts with the awards breakfast at 8 a.m. in the Arabian Room at the Murat Shrine. Tickets to the breakfast are $20 but do not included the cost of parking.
At 11 a.m., the annual Veterans Day Service will be held in the Pershing Auditorium at the Indiana War Memorial. The service was originally scheduled to take place on the steps outside the memorial. It will feature a patriotic musical prelude provided by the Indiana National Guard’s 38th Infantry Division Band beginning at 10:30 a.m.
The service will also be livestreamed on VeteransDayIndy.org.
The Veterans Day events honor veterans past and present for their military service, as well as recognizing local businesses who support veterans and active duty servicemembers, the organization said in a release.