Alexandria will mark Veterans Day on Wednesday (Nov. 11) with its annual ceremony and various schedule changes and closures.
The city and Friends of Rocky Versace will host the Veterans Day ceremony at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center (2701 Commonwealth Avenue). The one-hour indoor ceremony will include patriotic music, a name reading of Alexandria’s 68 Vietnam War fallen servicemembers, and recognition of Gold Star families and military veterans attending. Qualified veterans can also receive the DoD Vietnam Era Veterans Lapel Pin.
Among the Vietnam veterans honored at the ceremony is Capt. Rocky Versace, an Alexandria resident who posthumously received the Medal of Honor. The Captain Rocky Versace Plaza and Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated outside the Mount Vernon Recreation Center in 2002.
City of Alexandria offices will be closed Wednesday in observance of the federal holiday, while Alexandria City Public Schools will have a student holiday. Other closures include Alexandria General District Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court, Court Service Unit, Circuit Court, and the Clerk of Circuit Court; the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles; Alexandria Health Department, Flora Krause Casey Health Center, and the Teen Wellness Center clinics; and Alexandria Library locations.
The Alexandria Archaeology Museum and the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum will be open from 1-4 p.m., and all other Historic Alexandria museums will be closed.
Charles Houston Recreation Center, Minnie Howard Recreation Center, and Patrick Henry Recreation Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while all other city-run recreation facilities and nature centers will be closed. The Torpedo Factory Art Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and wildlife concerns and animal emergencies can be directed to 703-746-4444.
DASH Bus will have regular service, including the King Street Trolley from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. DASH administrative offices will be closed. Metrorail will run weekend service from 5 a.m. to midnight with regular fares, and Metrobus will run on a regular Saturday schedule plus the M6X and P97 routes. Metro Access trips on holidays are cancelled but can be rescheduled. Parking will be free at Metro-owned garages and lots.
Alexandria police will suspend parking enforcement at meters and residential permit parking districts, although temporary no-parking signs will still be enforced. The city’s impound lot is closed on Nov. 11, but fees do not accrue on holidays.
The city’s residential refuse, recycling and yard waste will not be collected on Nov. 11 and will be delayed by one day for the rest of the week. Wednesday collections will be on Thursday, and Thursday collections will be on Friday. There are no changes to curbside compost service.
Emergency hotlines continue 24/7, including the Child Protective Services Hotline at 703-746-5800, Domestic Violence Hotline at 703-746-4911, Emergency Mental Health Services and Substance Use Crisis Hotline at 703-746-3401, Adult Protective Services Hotline at 703-746-5778 or 988 and Sexual Assault Hotline at 703-683-7273.
