RI Veterans: Veterans Day Special Issue – Rhode Island Events and Tributes – John A. Cianci

by John A. Cianci, Veterans writer

Please review the list carefully – we have tried to capture all the events and opportunities to celebrate Veterans Day today – tomorrow – and in the near future – and some programs coming up!  If we missed any, let us know and we will add them.

Send to [email protected] – thank you – and our salute to John A. Cianci, our veterans writer who informs us every week of news, resources and opportunities and events for our readers! – Nancy Thomas, Publisher

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Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 making it an annual observance, and it became a national holiday in 1938. Sixteen years later, then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name to Veterans Day to honor all those who served their country during war or peacetime. On this day, the nation honors military veterans — living and dead — with parades and other observances across the country and a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

The following facts are made possible by the invaluable responses to U.S. Census Bureau surveys.

Veteran Population

15.7 million – The number of military veterans in the United States in 2025, representing 5.9% of the total civilian population age 18 and over.

0.3% – The share of veterans in 2025 who served during World War II. Additionally, 2.3% of veterans served during the Korean War, 30.9% during the Vietnam War, 25.6% during the Persian Gulf War, and 31.4% during the Post-9/11 period (September 2001 to present).

30.5% – The share of veterans age 75 and older in 2025. At the other end of the spectrum, 8.4% of veterans were under age 35.

Source: 2025 American Community Survey 1-year estimates

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Veterans Day Events

November 10th – 

Tuesday, November 10 — URI, Kingston, noon: Free public ceremony in the Hope Room, Robert J. Higgins Welcome Center, 45 Upper College Road. Speaker: retired Navy Captain Michael McCarten, a Cranston native who served 30 years as a Navy physician. Refreshments follow; registration encouraged through URI’s announcement.

November 11th – 

8:45 a.m.–1 p.m. – North Kingstown Veterans Day Parade & Ceremony: Memorial events and parade activities at Veterans Memorial Park, across from 80 Boston Neck Road. The state lists this overall event window; confirm parade step-off separately.

9:30 a.m.- West Warwick Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park, Legion Way.

9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.- Woonsocket Museum of Work & Culture donation drive: Receive free admission by donating nonperishable food, blankets, toiletries or new clothing for local veterans. Museum at 42 South Main Street – New Englanders Helping Our Veterans will receive donations

10 am – East Greenwich Veterans Day Parade: Starts at Academy Field, follows Mawney Street, First Avenue and Main Street, and ends at Town Hall. Includes a wreath laying near the WWII Memorial. Rain location: Swift Community Center.

10-11 am – East Providence Veterans Day Ceremony at the Garden of Flags on Veterans Memorial Parkway.

11 am – Barrington Ceremony and 5K Honor Ruck: Ceremony outside Town Hall, 283 County Road, followed by a veterans meet-and-greet. A symbolic walk to Atria Bay Spring Village begins at noon, with refreshments.

11am – Cumberland – A new monument dedicated to those from Cumberland who served in the Revolutionary War Situated among similar structures at the Cumberland Monastery. Post 14 will participate in the ceremony, speaking program with participation by the mayor and other local dignitaries.

11 am- Tiverton Veterans Day Tribute – at Tiverton Bicentennial Green, presented by the Tiverton Historical Society.

11 am – Middletown Ceremony and Revolutionary War memorial plaque dedication at Paradise Valley Park, 19 Prospect Avenue. Includes wreath laying, honor guard, musket salute and planned tours of Paradise School and Boyd’s Mill.

11:30 a.m. – Cranston Veterans Day Parade: Begins on Doric Avenue and concludes in Rolfe Square, followed immediately by a ceremony at the cannon memorial. (Veterans skate free at the Cranston Veterans Memorial Ice Rink all day)

2–3 p.m. – Bristol – State of Rhode Island Veterans Day Celebration: Rhode Island Veterans Home, 480 Metacom Avenue, in the Galley. Open to everyone. Information: 401-921-2119.

6ppm – Middletown – Free history talk: Historian Michael J. Simpson presents “The Trial of Fortune Stoddard — Race, Patriotism, and Solidarity in Revolutionary Rhode Island,” at Newport Vineyards, 606 East Main Road. Stoddard was an enslaved Middletown resident who served in the First Rhode Island Regiment and gained his freedom.

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Free Dental Clinic for Veterans – Newport Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

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Munroe Dairy Honors Veterans, Active-Duty Military with Free Ice Cream – Wednesday, November 11^th

Munroe Dairy, Rhode Island’s trusted purveyor of farm-fresh goodness since 1881, will honor veterans and active-duty military with a free ice cream offer on Veterans Day, Nov. 11th from 9am to 6pm. Those with a valid veteran or military  ID can enjoy a complimentary single scoop of Munroe Dairy’s ice cream, including seasonal flavors like Monster Mash and Pumpkin Pie. The Sacred Cow Market and Cafe is at 187 N Brow Street, in East Providence. For more information, visit www.cowtruck.com.

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Veteran Day Freebies and Discounts on Veterans Day

99 Restaurants Offerings on Veterans’ day

On Veterans Day, 99 Restaurant & Pub (often called “The 99”) offers veterans and active-duty military members a free lunch from a special Veterans Day menu with the purchase of any entrée.

Key Details:

• Time: From opening until 4:00 PM.
• Requirement: Must purchase any regular entrée and show a military ID or proof of service.
• Dine-in: This is a dine-in only offer.
• Exclusions: Beverages, tax, and gratuity are not included. It cannot be combined with 99 Rewards, coupons, happy hours, or the standard 10% military discount. [1]

You can check out current menu details and locations directly on the 99 Restaurants Website

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Grist Mill

The Old Grist Mill Tavern (part of Red Oak Hospitality) offers veterans and active-duty service members a complimentary meal from a featured Veterans Day selection, including access to the Fresh Works Salad Bar. [1]

Featured Veterans Day Selections

• Homestyle Turkey Dinner
• 10oz Slow-Roasted Prime Rib
• Classic Meatloaf
• Seafood Platter [1]

Details to Know

• Eligibility: All veterans and active-duty service members who present a military ID or proof of service.
• Other Red Oak Hospitality Offers: If you visit their sister locations, they offer complimentary items such as free pizza at Canned Heat Craft Beer, a full-menu meal choice at The Tipsy Toboggan, coffee/ice cream/pastry at Gathering Grounds Cafés, and a free ride at the Fall River Carousel.

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Veterans Day Exhibit – Providence City Council

Outside the Council Chambers, a new exhibit celebrating veterans and veteran organizations of yesteryear features an original 48-star American flag that once flew proudly outside Providence City Hall’s City Council Chambers.  During World War II, nearly 96,000 Rhode Islanders answered their nation’s call to service, including more than 34,000 men and women from Providence. Approximately 2,560 Rhode Island service members lost their lives during that war. The exhibit honors veterans from several wars. On display are over a hundred years’ worth of archival records, photos, tintypes, and even a doughboy helmet from World War I.  The exhibit will be on display until November 30th on the third floor of City Hall, which is open to the public Monday-Friday from 8:30-4:30. City Hall will be closed on Wednesday, November 11th, in recognition of Veterans Day.

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Ocean State Job Lot  Military and Veteran Crazy Deal® Days November 5^th – 11^th

Special promotion offers military personnel, veterans and their immediate family members a Crazy Deal® Gift Card equal to 40% of qualifying purchases of $20 or more at all 177 store locations. During the weeklong promotion, active-duty, National Guard and reserve military service members, veterans, and their immediate family members and dependents who are registered Job Lot Insider® Club members will receive a Crazy Deal® Gift Card equal to 40% of their qualifying in-store purchase of $20 or more. For example, an eligible customer who spends $50 will receive a $20 Crazy Deal® Gift Card to use toward a future purchase.

“Veterans and military families are part of every community we serve, and this is one way we can show our appreciation in a tangible way,” said David Sarlitto, Vice President of Corporate Giving, Ocean State Job Lot. “Whether someone is stocking up on household essentials or preparing for the holidays, we hope the extra value from a Crazy Deal Gift Card helps make their next shopping trip a little easier.”

Military and Veteran Crazy Deal Days is part of OSJL’s ongoing commitment to supporting veterans, service members and their families. The retailer also recently launched its 11^thannual Buy, Give, Get Coats Program, which allows customers to purchase a winter coat for $45 and donate it back to OSJL in exchange for a $45 Crazy Deal® Gift Card to use on a future purchase. Approximately 90,000 winter coats are expected to be available through this year’s program for distribution to people in need, including veterans, across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Eligible customers must be registered Job Lot Insider® Club members and present appropriate military identification at checkout. Customers can enroll in the free Insider Club at www.oceanstatejoblot.com/new-insider-signup. To find a nearby store, visit www.oceanstatejoblot.com/store-locator.

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Trout Stocking – Fishing

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is conducting a special trout stocking in advance of Veterans Day in honor of our veterans.Rainbow and Brook trout will be stocked in 14 waterbodies today through Tuesday, Nov. 10. The following areas will be stocked:

• Barber Pond, South Kingstown
• Carbuncle Pond, Coventry
• Meadow Brook Pond, Richmond
• Olney Pond, Lincoln Woods State Park, Lincoln
• Round Top Ponds, Burrillville
• Shippee Sawmill Pond,Foster
• Silver Spring Lake, North Kingstown
• Simmons Mill Pond, Little Compton
• Stafford Pond, Tiverton
• Tarkiln Pond,Burrillville
• Tucker Pond, South Kingstown
• Watchaug Pond,Charlestown
• Willett Pond, East Providence
• Wood River, Rt 165 Check Station, and” The Pines”, Exeter

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Other Events that have happened:

WaterFire Providence held a full lighting on Saturday, November 7, for the 14th Annual Salute to Veterans. The evening honored Rhode Island’s Veterans and active-duty service members from all branches of the military, featuring pipe and drum corps and military bands.

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Providence City Council President Pro Tempore Juan Pichardo (Ward 9), who is also Chairman of the Special Commission on Veterans Affairs, led a ceremony honoring Providence’s service members and their families. Citations were awarded to three distinguished veterans, former Providence City Councilor Judge Francis Darigan Jr., Father Robert L. Marciano, who delivered the evening’s benediction, and Rodney Soares.

Judge Darigan served as a member of the US Armed Forces at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C., from 1965 to 1967. Following his discharge from active duty, Darigan served as a reserve officer in the US Army’s 76th division, retiring from military service in 1975 with the rank of captain. Darigan served as a council member on the Providence City Council from 1971-1975, representing Ward 9. After his tenure on the City Council, Darigan acted as legal counsel to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Governor’s Office on Energy, and the Public Utilities Commission before being appointed as Associate Judge to the Rhode Island District Court in 1984.   In 1991, Darigan was appointed to the Superior Court of Rhode Island. He retired in 2012.

Fr. Marciano serves as the 7th Pastor of Saint Kevin Parish where he began his ministry on June 1, 2012.  Since 1992, Father has served as a Chaplain for the United States Air Force. From 2006 to 2010, he served at the National Guard Bureau at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and as Chief of Chaplains for the Air National Guard rising to the rank of Colonel. On September 15, 2016, Fr. Bob retired as Chaplain for the Rhode Island National Guard.

Roderick Soares is the Commander of Lts. Armstrong/Gladding American Legion Post 69. Soares served for 28 years with the Air National Guard’s 143rd Airlift Wing, retiring as a Master Sergeant. Soares also spent 20 years as an officer in the Providence Police Department.

The members of Providence’s Special Commission on Veterans Affairs also received citations for their service. They are Kassim Yarn, Director, Designee from Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services; Anthony J. Alves, Sr., Deputy Director of the Department of Public Property; and Violeta Cruz Del Valle, Rhode Island Air National Guard (Ret).

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Upcoming Events

November 14th – Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT —Vets Rock, free and open to all ages. Opening ceremony at 11 a.m. in The Shops; veterans resource expo and job fair noon–4 p.m. in the Uncas Ballroom. Includes veterans organizations and veteran-owned businesses.

November 14th – 10am – Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Cumberland, will host a tour of Elder Ballou Cemetery

Monday, November 16 — Warwick, 8:30–11 a.m.: Congressman Seth Magaziner’s Veterans Appreciation Breakfast & Legislative Update, with Congressman Jake Auchincloss, at the Crowne Plaza, 801 Greenwich Avenue. Registration required: 401-244-1201.

November 17 – 6pm – Trinity Rep, Providence – Stories and poems of local veterans – presented by Providence Clemente Veterans’ Initiative (PCVI) and Trinity Repertory Company. Veteran Voices features readings and performances from local veterans about their time during and after military service. Registration is required for this free event: https://www.trinityrep.com/show/veteran-voices/

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November 21 Weekend – Operation Holiday Cheer – Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos discussed the annual care package initiative for Rhode Island service members who will be stationed away from home during the holidays. To learn how to donate goods or volunteer for care package assembly, which will take place the weekend of November 21st, visit https://ltgov.ri.gov/ohc.  – “The work that my office does with the military family and serving the veterans, for me, is one of the most important work that I do,” said Lt. Governor Matos. “And it is a way in which I am able to say thank you for their sacrifices and for everything that they have given to us.”

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Coming up!

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Aspen Dental annual Day of Service

On Saturday, November 7, 2026  to share a recent update regarding Veterans Day dental care and express our gratitude to Aspen Dental for their annual Day of Service, which took place on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

As many in our community know, access to routine or emergency dental care remains out of reach for many veterans. Under current U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guidelines, full dental coverage is generally restricted to veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating or a specific service-connected disability involving the mouth or jaw. Events like Aspen Dental’s Day of Service help bridge this critical gap by offering free exams, X-rays, cleanings, and emergency treatments to non-service-connected veterans.

From all the Veterans, ASPEN DENTAL STAFF and Volunteers, THANK YOU!