The Washington National Cathedral will host a National Tribute Concert to Veterans on Sunday. (Photo by Danielle E. Thomas courtesy of Washington National Cathedral)

The DC Lineup for Veterans Day Weekend: A variety of ways to honor those who served

By Jennifer Anne Mitchell On Nov 9, 2018

Following Election Day on Tuesday, patriotic sentiment runs high this weekend, Nov. 9 to 11. It’s Veterans Day on Sunday, so many folks are able to relax with an extra day off on Monday, Veterans Day observed. Take advantage of the many opportunities in DC to honor those who have served in the U.S. armed forces and to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I — or take in some of the liberties that they fought for us to enjoy, whether it’s an artistic demonstration, a festive market or open discussions on politics and literature.

DMV Black Restaurant Week continues through Sunday as well, celebrating this region’s culinary delights at participating restaurants throughout the weekend plus a conference on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. about the business of food and beverages for those interested in learning more.

Expect varied weather: rain on Friday with temperatures in the 40s, and then sun throughout Saturday and Sunday with highs in the 40s and lows in the 30s.

(Photo courtesy of Teaching for Change)

Literature: Teaching for Change‘s D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice project presents a free discussion on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon on Exploring Representation of Native Americans in Children’s Literature. This session is geared toward early childhood educators and will take a look at the representation of Native Americans in children’s literature along with best practices in addressing representation and history with students. Register to attend the event, hosted at the Eaton Hotel, 1201 K St. NW.
Arts: Catharsis on the Mall is an annual demonstration on the National Mall of the power of participatory art, political action and healing to strengthen participants and communities. This is the fourth year the event has been held, and its theme is “Waking From the American Dream” with the idea of “setting the foundation for a new culture.” Activities will take place from noon on Friday to noon on Sunday, with offerings such as yoga, jujitsu, dance, DJ performances and visual art installations.
(Photo courtesy of the Embassy of the Czech Republic)

Culture: Embrace the season with a traditional Czech Christmas Market on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Embassy of the Czech Republic, 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW. This free event brings together vendors selling seasonal favorites such as mulled wine, eggnog, Christmas cookies and cuisine from Bistro Bohem, the only DC restaurant serving authentic Czech food. Czech crystal, glass and jewelry will also be for sale. Visitors can also enjoy performances of Czech Christmas carols and a Nativity scene. Reservations are not needed.
Sports: Get moving on Sunday with the Veterans Day 10K starting at 8 a.m. or a 2-mile Tidal Basin Fun Walk starting at 8:15 a.m. Registration for the events includes refreshments, a photo booth, T-shirts and medals for finishers. Sign-up costs $45 for the 10K and $20 for the walk. The course — designed with Veterans Day in mind with views of several memorials and monuments — feature a fast, flat route through East and West Potomac Parks, giving runners an optimal chance to beat their personal records. Both events are hosted by Pacers Running, a local retailer that offers training, races, a podcast “Pace the Nation” and more, all with the mission of making running accessible to everyone.
Military: Friends of the National World War II Memorial will host a Veterans Day Observance at the memorial on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. This special ceremony honors the 16 million people who served in the Second World War, with a keynote speech from WWII veteran Ewing H. Miller, the sole survivor in a plane that was shot down in battle. Miller spent the remaining time in the war as a prisoner. During the ceremony, Miller and a dozen other veterans will lay wreaths at the Freedom Wall to honor the over 400,000 Americans who died during the war.
Music: The 369th Experience, a program of the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission, consists of 42 musicians from historically black colleges and universities in a re-creation of the 396th Regimental Band that supported the famous Harlem Hell Fighters a century ago. The African-American and Puerto Rican men who comprised the original group gave European audiences their first taste of ragtime, jazz and blues. The National Museum of African American History and Culture will host WWI: The 369th Experience on Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This free performance will be held at the Oprah Winfrey Theater in the museum at 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Register online before seats fill up; a webcast will be available for those who can’t make it to the concert.
CNN politics reporter Chris Cillizza (Photo courtesy of CNN)

Politics: Process the outcome of the election with Inside Media: Midterm Election Wrap-Up featuring CNN politics reporter Chris Cillizza and politics news editor Leigh Munsil on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Newseum’s Knight TV Studio, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. The speakers will review the election results nationwide and discuss what effect they will have on Donald Trump’s presidency. The talk is free with museum admission. To honor Veterans Day, all veterans and active-duty members can visit the Newseum for free this weekend, and each may bring a guest.
Military: Join the Vietnam Women’s Memorial Foundation for its Veterans Day Weekend events Saturday and Sunday, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the addition of the Vietnam Women’s Memorial to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial to honor the military women who served during the war as nurses and in other roles. Activities to commemorate this occasion include a candlelight ceremony on the National Mall; storytelling from veterans and their loved ones during a program called “In Their Own Words”; and a Veterans Day ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial with a group photo afterward. The Embassy Suites at 1250 22nd St. NW — the headquarters hotel for the weekend’s events — with have a temporary gift shop with items such as commemorative pins, patches, coins and keepsakes available for purchase.
(Photo courtesy of the National Museum of American History)

Museums: The National Museum of American History presents a day of activities to honor servicemen and -women with Remembering World War I on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The schedule includes a moment of remembrance, an all-day film festival, costumed WWI re-enactors, interactive carts with information about the war, and talks from Smithsonian Institution experts. The museum is located on Constitution Avenue NW between 12th and 14th streets. Those unable to attend in person can connect with the museum online during Stories of Service Social Media Day on Friday, when the hashtag #StoriesOfService brings together narratives of remembrance.
Music: Conclude the weekend with patriotic music at the Washington National Cathedral, 3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW. On Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m., the Cathedral will host the National Veterans Day Concert, which celebrates veterans with performances from the Washington National Cathedral Choir and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Chamber Orchestra. Stories from servicemen and -women as well as their families are part of the program, too. The performance is free, but online registration is required.