Many local ceremonies are planned in honor of Veterans Day, the first of which will take place Friday.

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day was first commemorated Nov. 11, 1919, as Armistice Day. President Woodrow Wilson made the proclamation stating, “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

Armistice Day recognized that even though World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, the fighting stopped when an armistice was reached between the Allied nations and Germany on the 11th hour on the 11th day of November, 1918.

The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.

The name of the celebration was changed to Veterans Day in 1938.

Locally, Patterson Garden Club and the City of Patterson kick off the celebrations Friday at 11 a.m. with a Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker ceremony at City Hall, 1314 Main St.

All veterans, auxiliary members, military personnel and the public are invited to all the local ceremonies.

Berwick Garden Club will hold a Blue Star Marker ceremony Monday at 1 p.m. at the marker located near the intersection by the La. 182 red light.

On Thursday, Nov. 10, a Veterans Day ceremony will be hosted by Maison Jardin at 516 Roderick St. in Morgan City.

Veterans Day has a host of ceremonies on tap.

Two ceremonies will be held at 9 a.m., one at Berwick Junior High School and one at Morgan City High School.

BJHS will host its 19th annual event at its school on La. 182. Staff, faculty and students from Bayou Vista Elementary, Berwick Elementary and BJHS will join to pay tribute.

The Historical Society of MCHS is hosting its event at the school located on the corner of Hickory Street and Tiger Drive. A reception will follow in the school library.

American Legion Atchafalaya Post 96 will host a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. at Lawrence Park in Morgan City. Following the ceremony, veterans and the public are invited for soup and sandwiches at the post home located at the corner of La. 182 and Everett Street, also in Morgan City.

Concluding the local celebrations will be Morgan City Junior High School with a ceremony at 1 p.m. in the boys’ gym. A reception will follow in the school library.