Five Things to Know Today: Nov. 11, 2011 - Veterans Day Edition

1. Sunshiny Day: Today will be mostly sunny with a high temperature around 51, according to the National Weather Service. The day will also be breezy with a west wind increasing to speeds up to 19 and 22 MPH. Tonight the skies remain clear and the low temp dips to 33.

 

2. Moment of Silence at 11 a.m.: Today is a national holiday set to honor the American veterans who have served our country and protected our freedoms. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs has announced that at the eleventh hour today, the eleventh day of November, the eleventh month, in the year 2011 the nation should pause for a moment of silence to recognize the sacrifice and contributions American veterans have offered our nation.

 

3. Origin of the Holiday: Nov. 11, 1918 is the day that fighting ceased between the Allies and Germany in WWI. An armistice went into effect at 11 a.m. on that day, and one year later President Wilson announced that Nov. 11 would commemorate “Armistice Day”. Veterans Day was recognized as a national holiday on June 4, 1926.

 

4. What’s Closed Today?: Veteran’s Day is a federal holiday so all governmental offices (locally that means the and the ), all post offices will be closed and regular mail delivery will not occur. Banks can set up their own hours, so check with your personal bank to see if it is open today. The will be closed. Garbage pick-up will continue as scheduled.

 

5. Free Meal for Veterans: If you are a current member of the U.S. armed forces or a veteran, with proof of service, you can eat for free at on Tennent Rd. in Englishtown or at Applebee’s on Rt. 9 in Manalapan. For more information, click .