Communities across the US mark Veterans Day with ceremonies, parades and food aid

Americans observed Veterans Day on Wednesday with events that included a memorial service in Indianapolis, a downtown parade in Nashville and grocery giveaways for military households in San Antonio, according to local outlets in several states.

In San Antonio, the Spurs teamed with the nonprofit Mercy Chefs and the Adam R. Scripps Family Foundation to hand out groceries at the Frost Bank Center, KSAT reported. The "Feed the Force" program supplied boxes to 1,000 families connected to Joint Base San Antonio, the station said. Gary LeBlanc, who founded and leads Mercy Chefs, told KSAT each box could make as many as 50 meals and came with fresh produce. Season ticket holders and staff from the Spurs, Mercy Chefs and USAA packed the boxes, according to the station.

LeBlanc described money troubles among service members. "When you realize the average enlisted family exists on less than $500 a week, it's just excruciating to think what they must go through," he told KSAT. Several veterans who spoke with the station mentioned economic pressures, and one urged fellow veterans to ask for help with food, housing or mental health care without embarrassment.

In Indianapolis, WISH-TV reported that hundreds of people turned out for the yearly Veterans Day observance at the Indiana War Memorial, now in its 55th year. Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, attended along with two Democrats: Mayor Joe Hogsett and Beau Bayh, described by the station as the incoming secretary of state. "Days like today give us an opportunity to reflect on what it means to serve something greater than ourselves," Hogsett said, according to WISH-TV. The station said several people in the crowd were about to join the military, one of them that same day.

In Philadelphia, about 200 veterans, active-duty troops and relatives were guests of the Phillies and SEI at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday evening, 6abc reported. Three retired Phillies, Mickey Morandini, Dickie Noles and Milt Thompson, offered batting pointers as others took stadium tours, the station said. The organization Chosen 300 handed out hot food and clothing; its executive director told 6abc that veterans make up a fifth of the city's homeless residents.

In Nashville, a parade at 11 a.m. drew veterans, veterans groups and onlookers to the city's tourist district, with a Metro Nashville Public Schools ROTC unit among the marchers, the Tennessee Lookout reported. The outlet explained that many observances start at that hour because the World War I armistice took effect then on Nov. 11, and that the holiday carried the name Armistice Day until 1954.

Compiled by True News from reporting by 6abc Action News, Tennessee Lookout, KSAT and WISH-TV. Each outlet's original story is linked below.

Originally published by True News: https://truenews.bagleyenterprises.net/stories/991