Juneau to mark Veterans Day with trio of traditional gatherings

Ray Wilson, a Korean War veteran, and U.S. Army Col. Erica Iverson place a wreath at the newly renovated Southeast Alaska Native Veterans Memorial Park on Nov. 11, 2025. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

Juneau Independent staff

Juneau will honor military veterans and active-duty members on Wednesday with a trio of traditional gatherings that overlap the historic 11 a.m. timing of the World War I armistice between the Allied nations and Germany on Nov. 11, 1918.

Observing the occurrence as Armistice Day in front of the Alaska State Capitol will be Veterans for Peace, scheduled to hold a vigil starting at 10:30 a.m. and a ringing of the bell in front of the Capitol at 11 a.m. The group’s event is in keeping with the spirit of what was an annual Armistice Day holiday until it was changed to Veterans Day in 1954 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

A Veterans Day gathering "to recognize and celebrate all veterans" is scheduled starting at 11 a.m. at Centennial Hall. It is co-hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Taku Post #5559 and American Legion Post #25, with a keynote speech by Twayne Hickman, a Marine Corps combat veteran and professor of military strategy at the Ted Stephens Center for Arctic Security Studies.

An annual Southeast Alaska Native Veterans gathering featuring a performance by the Yaaw Tei Yi Dance Group, a luncheon and a keynote speech by retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Richard Gallant is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. at the Tlingit and Haida Community Council Building at 3235 Hospital Drive.

City, state, federal and tribal government offices will be closed Wednesday. Some businesses are offering specials and other recognition of veterans, including TK Maguire's offering a free breakfast to veterans and active-duty service members from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or 907-957-2306.