Veterans Day. Veterans Plaza Dedication. FREE Veterans Concert.

JOIN US NOVEMBER 11 starting at 10am FOR A
SPECIAL PROGRAM TO DEDICATE VETERANS PLAZA
THEN COME BACK IN THE EVENING FOR A
RECEPTION & FREE VETERANS DAY CONCERT

November 11th is Veterans Day. While this day means different things to different people, one meaning is constant: Honor those that have served. To families with loved ones in the military – past or present – this is a particularly powerful day. To us others, it is a day to give thanks to our friends that have served. And, to all of us, it is a day to reflect.

Here is Silver Spring we are keenly aware of this Day. Our proximity to our Nation’s Capital and the neighboring Walter Reed Facility is a constant reminder of why we have this Day.

And now we have Veterans Plaza. Its name is not happenstance nor unintentional.

The name is an ode to the old Armory that was torn down years back to make way for the current evolution of what is downtown Silver Spring. But the name is also much more.

The folks involved in making the Silver Spring Civic Building and Veterans Plaza happen worked hard to make sure that our public square is a dignified place to gather, a place to honor our veterans, and a place for civic discourse. They saw fit to ensure this plaza was named – simply and beautifully – VETERANS Plaza… And, so it is…

And, what is a Plaza without a monument? Veterans Plaza too will have its monument. Toby Mendez, a Maryland artist, has visualized and is designing a free-standing sketched glass art piece that honors Maryland veterans. This piece will be ready for unveiling sometime in 2011.

The Building too has strong references to our veterans. Some of the cases in the atrium will be filled with memorabilia and artifacts honoring our veterans. And, we made sure the address of the facility also reflected this theme, so we have One Veterans Place. (Veterans Place is the new street behind the building.)

We will be dedicating the Plaza THURSDAY NOVEMEBER 11, starting at 10am. County Executive Isiah Leggett will present a Veterans Day Proclamation. In the afternoon there will be seminars. The Veterans Commission on Veterans Affair has worked with many of its member organizations and others to bring this event to us…. And in the evening, a reception at 6pm will be followed by a FREE concert coordinated by the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., in cooperation with various other organizations.

More info on the FREE Concert:

The Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs, in partnership with the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc., Round House Theatre, and the Maryland Youth Ballet is pleased to present the third annual “A Tribute to America’s Veterans” concert on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at 7 pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza in Silver Spring.

The “Tribute to America’s Veterans” concert will feature dance performances by the Maryland Youth Ballet, Contradiction Dance and the youth groups, Might Shock and Future Shock. In addition, there will be musical performances by Silver Spring’s Jonny Grave and the jazz/blues fusion group, C. Henry Woods Troupe, featuring the Jazz Bombers.

The evening program will also feature Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland’s 8th Congressional District who will make Veterans Day remarks and present certificates of recognition to two Montgomery County residents currently serving in the U.S. Navy.

PLEASE JOIN US! Thursday November 11
- Plaza Dedication - 10am
- Seminars and Informatino - Afternoon
- Reception – 6pm
- Concert (free!) – 7-9pm

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