City News Blog: 2025 VETERANS DAY CEREMONY AND PARADE CELEBRATING AMERICA TURNING 250 YEARS OLD

City News Blog: 2025 VETERANS DAY CEREMONY AND PARADE CELEBRATING AMERICA TURNING 250 YEARS OLD

LAKELAND, FL (October 27, 2025) | On Saturday, November 8, 2025, at 10 a.m. there will be a ceremony celebrating all veterans at Veterans Memorial Park located at 701 West Lime Street. Guest speaker Dr Alan Snyder, a recognized historical expert, author and professor, will focus on the events that took place leading up to the Declaration of Independence-The Path to Freedom.

Veterans Day is observed annually on November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I. On this day we honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. When Veterans Day falls on a weekday, many communities like Lakeland hold Veterans Day parades or other celebrations on the weekend before November 11 so more people can participate.

The Polk County Veterans Council is hosting the Lakeland Veteran's Day Parade that takes place immediately following the ceremony in Veterans Park. The parade honors all veterans. The Veteran's Day Parade will step off from the RP Funding Center at 11 a.m. and travel east along Lemon Street into downtown Lakeland. The parade will then turn north on Kentucky Avenue and end in the Munn Park parking lot. The parade will feature veteran groups, JROTC Units, Sea Cadets, CAP Cadets, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Marching Bands, City of Lakeland public safety members, Lakeland Electric and other community groups.

Gary Clark, Chairman of the Polk County Veteran's Council said, "It is with great pleasure that we honor our veterans during this special day." This next year is special as we celebrate the birth of our nation. It is our hope this wonderful community will embrace those founding principles that make this experiment in self-governance so unique.

World War I, known at the time as the Great War, officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Contacts

Jamin Smith
Digital Content Creator

City of [email protected]

About Lakeland

The City of Lakeland was incorporated in January 1885 and has grown to become one of the largest inland communities in Florida. With a current population fast approaching 130,000 Lakeland continues to grow. It has been designated a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area by the US Census Bureau for over 30 years. With tourist attractions and gulf beaches only an hour away, Lakeland continues to capitalize on its ideal central Florida location along the I-4 corridor. The City owns and operates Lakeland Electric, the third largest publicly owned utility in Florida and it was one of the first to offer power in the Sunshine State in 1889.

For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please visit https://www.lakelandgov.net. Citizens are also invited to follow the City on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, Snapchat and Nextdoor. Citizens can find the City of Lakeland on these social media platforms by searching lakelandgov.

For additional information about the City of Lakeland, please explore LakelandGov.net.
Citizens are also invited to follow the City on social media.

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