City officials and members of local veterans groups will be on hand to honor those who have served in all branches of the military.  Officials, veterans and community organizations will also participate in a solemn wreath laying ceremony.  Following the ceremony there will be a reception inside City Hall.

Veterans Day remarks will be delivered by Brigadier General (Ret.) Donald Whalen.  General Whalen graduated from West Point in 1957 and was commissioned as a Field Artilleryman.  During the following 28 years, he served with an Armored Division in Germany, an Airborne Brigade in The Republic of Vietnam, and in the U.S. he served on nine Army posts, one Navy base, at one university and twice in the Pentagon.  His military career included teaching at West Point, commanding Field Artillery units and spending much time in Research, Development and Acquisition of weapons systems.  Following retirement, General Whalen worked with Cypress International in Alexandria for 25 years.  His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. 

The City of Gaithersburg is once again supporting the efforts of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), which adopts various units deployed overseas.  At the observance we will be collecting items to send as part of the Adopt-A-Unit program.  Items most needed include:  Powdered drink mixes, Silly String (to detect lasers in a room), cherry flavored lip balm, men’s undershirts, boxers and briefs, flypaper, cans of salted nuts, travel size toothbrushes, toothpaste, soaps, shampoos and lotions, sealable plastic bags, trail mixes, disposable cameras, and AA and AAA batteries. 

The VFW also accepts cash and check donations, which they use to purchase postage and calling cards in bulk at a discounted price.  Donations can be dropped off between 4 and 9 p.m. at the VFW John M. Carter Post #9862, 211K N. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD  20877, 301-948-0781.  Please make checks payable to VFW Post #9862. 

For more information on Gaithersburg’s Veterans Day Observance please call 301-258-6350 or e-mail cityhall@gaithersburgmd.gov.