On Friday, November 11, Beaufort community members can show their respect to the men and women who’ve dedicated a lifetime to serving our country by attending the Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony.
Edward Ray, Beaufort Country Veterans Affairs Officer, said small tributes like attending the parade and ceremony go a long way in showing appreciation: “Our soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen deserve a great deal of appreciation for preserving our freedom and our American way of life. The gratitude of our citizens means a lot to them.”
The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at Rogers Street near the national cemetery and will move along Boundary Street toward downtown, onto Bay Street, right onto Bladen Street and back to the cemetery.
At 11 a.m., the Veterans Ceremony will have a keynote speech at Beaufort’s National Cemetery (1601 Boundary Street) by Gen. Lori Reynolds, Commanding General at Marine Corps Parris Island Recruit Depot.
Retired Sgt. Major Carl R. Green, USMC, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, will be the grand marshal of the parade. Whale Branch Early College High School’s band will perform in the parade and the ceremony. Also appearing in the parade will be high school bands from the area as well as the color guard of each branch of service along with marching military personnel.
Local veteran service organizations and ladies auxiliaries will be there, with various local businesses, school groups, civic organizations, fire departments, state and local elected officials, the Water Festival Pirettes and the Patriot Guard Riders.
A reception will follow the ceremony at the AMVETS Post #70 (1831 Ribaut Road, Port Royal). Come rally on and make the parade and ceremony your duty this Veterans Day.

County Closings for Veterans Day

• All Beaufort County Administrative offices, Solid Waste and Recycling Convenience Centers and the County Courthouse will close Friday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. Offices and the courthouse will resume normal hours of operation Monday, Nov. 14.
• The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles also will be closed on Friday, November 11 in observance of the Veterans Day state holiday.