A Veterans Day Commemoration in the Heart of Doylestown |
Taps and a ringing bell at 11 a.m. at the Historical Society, and everyone is welcome |
At 11 o'clock on Wednesday morning, Main Street will pause.
The Doylestown Historical Society will hold its Veterans' Day Commemoration in its park at 56 S. Main St., from 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
The program centers on two simple, moving traditions: the playing of taps and the ringing of the bell.
It's the kind of quiet moment that stays with you.
The 11 a.m. start is no accident.
The fighting in World War I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, and that moment became the heart of what we now call Veterans Day.
All veterans and active-duty service members are invited, and so is the public.
If you have a veteran in your family, this is a lovely way to spend part of the day together.
Bring a parent who served, a neighbor, or the grandkids, who may never have heard taps played live.
No tickets are listed, so plan to simply come by.
The park is right downtown, which makes it easy to pair with coffee or lunch on Main Street afterward.
The ceremony runs about an hour, so dress for standing outdoors in November.
If you want to keep the day going, the County Theater on State Street is showing The Longest Day, the star-studded 1962 film about D-Day, at 7 p.m. that evening.
A few practical notes for the day: Bucks County government offices and courts are closed for the holiday, and so are post offices, so there's no regular mail delivery.
Check ahead before heading to a borough or township office, too.
However you mark the day, take a moment to thank someone who served.
Doylestown has always been good at showing up for its veterans. |
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Took my dad there two years ago. He's a Vietnam vet and he cried when they played taps. Worth every minute.
Good reminder about the post office. Almost made that mistake last year.
Been going to this every year for about a decade now. The bell ringing always gets me.
My kids have never heard taps played live. Definitely bringing them this year.
Pairing it with lunch on Main Street after is a great idea. Lots of good spots nearby.
Love that the 11 a.m. Time still honors the original armistice moment. That history should not be forgotten.
Exactly right, that 11 a.m. Start is no accident, rooted in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, and keeping that history alive is part of why this ceremony matters.
Does anyone know if there is seating or is it all standing? My mom has trouble on her feet.
Went last year with my grandfather and he teared up when the bell rang. Worth every minute standing in the cold.
The Longest Day at County Theater is such a great pick for the evening. That film is a classic.
Heard taps played live at one of these a few years back and it really does stay with you. Bring tissues.
Good reminder about the post office being closed. Almost drove over there last year for nothing.
My dad is a Vietnam vet and we go to this every single year. The bell ringing always gets me.