Cape Cod has no shortage of residents that exhibited bravery and sacrifice for our freedom in active service and wartime, and there are several local places where you can pay tribute to these heroes on Veterans Day...and every day.

Veterans Memorial Park, Hyannis: The Korean War has been called “The Forgotten War” by many historians, but a striking 8-foot tall bronze statue in Veterans Memorial Park seeks to pay tribute to local residents that perished in the war, and recognize them for their sacrifices. Overlooking Lewis Bay and Veterans Park Beach on Ocean Street, this bustling area also pays homage to President John F. Kennedy, with a memorial honoring his service as both a politician and a World War II veteran. There will be wreath-laying ceremonies at both the JFK Memorial and the Korean War Memorial at 8:30 am on Veterans Day, November 11.

JFK Museum, Hyannis: In addition to commemorating the Kennedy’s family’s life and times on Cape Cod, the JFK Hyannis Museum in downtown Hyannis recognizes President Kennedy’s service in the US Navy, from which he received a Purple Heart. There is a wreath-laying ceremony at the flagpole in front of the museum at 9 am on Veterans Day, and retired and active military and their families receive free museum admission all day.

Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne: This solemn and respectful burial ground for more than 75,000 soldiers who served and protected the country was dedicated in 1980. The cemetery was the nation’s third to open after the National Cemetery Act was passed in 1973. Situated in a picturesque wooded area of Bourne, the cemetery also has a memorial trail, where 50 memorials have been placed from World War I to the present.

Mashpee Veterans Garden: Located near the 1831 one-room schoolhouse on Main Street and Great Neck Road North, the Mashpee Veterans Garden opened in 2015 and recognizes veterans from the Mashpee area that served our country all the way back to the Revolutionary War. The Circle of Honor tells the stories of these local heroes and their contributions of service to our country.

Brewster World War II Memorial: This memorial to our brave soldiers honors military members that gave their lives in World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War and the Korean War. The plaques are located near 1657 Main Street in Brewster, next to the Council on Aging building downtown.

Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Sandwich: Gifted to the town by William Eaton, the 30-foot statue of a Civil War soldier was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1911. As an engineer at the Boston and Sandwich Glass Factory, Eaton wanted to honor the men he worked with who left to fight for the Union army. Since the dedication, monuments have been constructed to honor veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In 2019, the square across the street from Sandwich Town Hall was renamed Eaton Veterans Memorial Park to honor vets that fought in a number of different wars.

Eastham Veterans Memorial: Dedicated on Veterans Day 2022, this is the town's first monument honoring veterans who have served in all the branches of the military. The 5-foot tall monument, located at the 1869 Schoolhouse Museum on Schoolhouse Road, sits on a patio of stone pavers that form a teardrop.

Wellfleet Sailors and Soldiers Monument: Located off Route 6 in the Duck Creek Cemetery, this monument honors the 221 local soldiers who served in the Civil War, and also recognizes the eight men from Wellfleet who perished in that war.

Hidden Wounds Memorial, Hyannis: This recently dedicated memorial brings light to a widespread problem facing veterans today: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Many soldiers suffer “invisible wounds” from their service, and this granite and bronze memorial honors those service members who died by suicide as a result of PTSD, also known as “silent casualties.” The memorial is located on the Village Green at the Main Street entrance in Hyannis.

Chatham Soldiers Monument: Located at Sears Park on the corner Main and Seaview streets, this obelisk style statue honors the 270 Chatham residents that fought and six soldiers that died in the Civil War.

Provincetown Veterans Memorial: There are benches to sit and reflect upon the bravery of service members at the Provincetown Veterans Memorial on the town hall grounds, which pays tribute to local men and women who served in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam.

Veterans Day Ceremonies on Saturday, November 11th
Many towns on Cape Cod will mark this Veterans’ Day with formal ceremonies, among them Barnstable (9:30 am) on the Hyannis Village Green Bandstand; Chatham (11 am) at the Chatham Community Center;  Mashpee (10 am) at the Community Park across from Mashpee Town Hall; Brewster (10 am) at the town’s Council on Aging; Orleans (11 am) at Veterans Memorial Park; Falmouth (11 am) on the lawn of the Falmouth Public Library; and Harwich (10:30 am) at the Veterans Memorial Circle at Evergreen Cemetery in East Harwich.

Restaurant Promotions for our Vets
Many local restaurants offer specials to those who serve coinciding with Veterans Day. Here is just a small sampling:

  • The Hot Stove Saloon in Harwich Port is offering a free pot roast dinner for all vets on Saturday, November 11
  • Quahog Republic Restaurants in Falmouth and Woods Hole are offering a free chowder to all veterans on the observed holiday on Friday, November 10
  • The Sea Dog Brew Pub in South Yarmouth is providing free meals to all veterans for the weekend of November 10-12
  • IHOP in Hyannis will be serving free red, white and blueberry pancakes to veterans on Saturday November 11 from 7 am to 7 pm.
  • Ninety Nine Restaurants will offer free lunches on Friday, November 10 (open to 5 pm) from their Veterans Day menu. Locations are in West Yarmouth, Falmouth, Centerville, and Mashpee.

If you see a veteran this Veterans Day, please thank them for their service and sacrifice to our country.