Veterans Day in Buffalo: What’s Open and What’s Closed

Monday, November 11, is Veteran’s Day, which means a day off school for kids and that many government offices might be closed. 

It’s meant to be a day to reflect on the sacrifices of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the military, both within the United States and overseas. 

There are at least three public commemorations and ceremonies scheduled for Monday: 

• Forest Lawn Cemetery will host a ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, in front of the American Legion Memorial Monument at the Veterans section of the cemetery, near the Main Street Gates. Volunteers will be placed throughout the Field of Valor and in the American Legion section of the cemetery starting at 8 a.m. and will remain on display for several days. The ceremony is open to the public. 

• The Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park will be open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday, with a ceremony scheduled in the Hangar Building at 10 a.m., followed by an outdoor ceremony at the Hispanic American Veterans Memorial at noon. Veterans will receive free admission to the park all day Monday; the last admission to the park will be permitted at 3 p.m. 

• Concordia Cemetery on Walden Avenue will have a commemoration in the cemetery starting at 11 a.m., with a reception to follow in the Landmark Farmhouse. 

• In Niagara County, a ceremony is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Monday at Cold Spring Cemetery, hosted by American Legion B. Leo Dolan Post Commander Michael Hanley. The ceremony will feature guest speaker David Wohleben from the Niagara County Veterans Service Agency, and Taps will be played by John Reich and John Cable. The ceremony is open to the public, and guests are asked to bring donations of peanut butter and jelly for the 2024 PB&J drive. 

• Another commemoration will take place in Outwater Park in Lockport at the World War 1 memorial at 11 a.m., with the B. Leo Dolan Post and the Devil Dogs Marine riflemen attending. Two Lockport High School students will play Taps. 

• In Wilson, there will be a commemoration at the Greenwood Cemetery on Harbor Street at 11 a.m. with the American legion, Martin F. Jennings Post Commander Gary Pettit, and speaker Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Gary Darnell. 

In addition to schools, banks and the post office will be closed; there will be no mail delivery, but carriers including FedEx and UPS will still operate. Parks will be open, and many that typically charge an admission fee will likely offer free admission for veterans. 

Several chain restaurants are offering free or special deals for veterans, including Applebee’s (free meal), Bob Evans (free meal), Brick House Tavern + Tap (20% off meal), Buffalo Wild Wings (10 free boneless wings and fries), Chili’s (free meal), Dunkin’ (free donut), Tim Hortons (free donut), and Red Robin (free meal). The Moose Lodge in Lockport, 204 Monroe Street, will offer veterans a free breakfast from 8-11 a.m. Monday. 

The Buffalo Sabres, fresh off a 3-2 shootout win Saturday against the Calgary Flames, will host their annual Military Appreciation Game Monday with a 12:30 p.m. game against the Montreal Canadiens. The team will honor Allen Prame, a 93-year-old Navy veteran, and will pay tribute to Army Specialist James Whitaker, a veteran who currently plays on the Buffalo Warriors sled hockey team.

In addition, the team will autograph special Military Appreciation jerseys that will later be auctioned off to benefit the Tunnel to Towers foundation with the organization’s efforts to build a Veterans Village on Harlem Road, a home for veterans with more than 90 apartments and veterans services available on site. Proceeds from Monday’s 50/50 in-game raffle also will go toward Tunnel to Towers. There will be recruitment tables for various branches of the military located throughout the concourse during Monday afternoon’s game, and between the first and second periods, new recruits will be welcomed at center ice to take their oath of enlistment. 

Veterans attending the game will receive 25% off all concessions and purchases by showing their military ID card.