By Molly Given<\/p>\n
Veterans Day is Tuesday, Nov. 11. Here is where to support, salute and celebrate in Philadelphia<\/a>.<\/p>\n Philadelphia Veterans Parade & Festival<\/p>\n Sunday, Nov. 9, marks the 11th year for the Philadelphia Veterans Parade & Festival, which will introduce a new honor in 2025 called Hometown Heroes.<\/p>\n The parade itself will begin at the intersection of 21st Street and Ben Franklin Parkway, with a route leading past the Philadelphia Art Museum to Eakins Oval. \u00a0The Festival\u2014which features food, drinks and plenty of family-friendly activities\u2014will be in full swing from noon to 4 p.m. at Eakins Oval.<\/p>\n For the Hometown Heroes portion, the honored individuals will march alongside Grand Marshal Ralph Galati, a former POW and lifelong veterans advocate. As a release notes, the 2025 Hometown Heroes include Joe Eastman, Vanessa Morbeck, Gerald (Jerry) Tempesta, Mary McCorvey, and Daniel Lee, each \u201crepresenting the strength, resilience, and heart of Philadelphia\u2019s veteran community.\u201d<\/p>\n phillyveteransparade.org<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018The Ralph Galati Story\u2019 screening<\/p>\n Festivities for the Philadelphia Veterans Parade & Festival kick off early this year with a feature-length documentary screening of \u2018The Ralph Galeti Story\u2019, this Friday (Nov. 7) at 7 p.m. The doc follows the life of Galeti (this year\u2019s Grand Marshall of the parade) and will feature his time as a Vietnam Combat Pilot and as a 14-month Prisoner of War in the infamous \u201cHanoi Hilton.\u201d Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the showcase will take place at the Mandeville Hall Teletorium at Saint Joseph\u2019s University. \u00a0<\/p>\n N 54th Street & City Avenue, phillyveteransparade.org<\/a><\/p>\n Taylor Grieger at The Prime Rib<\/p>\n Some may recognize Taylor Greiger from the Amazon Prime documentary, \u2018Hell or High Seas\u2019, which shows the navy vet with writer Stephen O’Shea sailing around the waters of Cape Horn. But this weekend, Grieger will be at The Prime Rib in Live! Casino to launch a specialty cocktail that’s raising money this month for veterans suffering from PTSD. The launch is set for this Friday (Nov. 7), and will showcase the Hell or High Seas Paloma, a specialty cocktail made with Cape Horn Tequila (Grieger\u2019s own brand), fresh grapefruit\/lime juice, prosecco and gochujang-pineapple infused simple syrup, garnished with a grilled Tajin pineapple.<\/p>\n Partial proceeds from every Paloma and cocktail made with the Cape Horn brand ordered will be donated directly to Skeleton Crew Adventures (a nonprofit that takes veterans and first responders battling PTSD on transformative, research-driven sailing expeditions), founded by Grieger. And for those who can\u2019t make it out this weekend, the Prime Rib will be keeping the Hell or High Seas Paloma on its menu this November to continue raising funds for the organization. Additionally, this month, the Live! Poker Room will also host a series of poker tournaments to benefit Skeleton Crew Adventures and other local veterans\u2019 organizations.<\/p>\n For those who can make it this Friday, a Tequila Talk & Tasting with Greiger will take place in the Prime Rib\u2019s lounge from 8 to 10 p.m.<\/p>\n 900 Packer Ave., livech.com<\/a><\/p>\n Eastern State Penitentiary<\/p>\n The ESP is commemorating the occasion with a series of events from Nov. 7 to 11. During those dates, locals can head to the historic venue from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to check out \u00a010-minute guided talks covering World War I, a video showing the impact of the justice system on veterans today, and a pop-up exhibit featuring photos, documents, and artifacts that tell the story of veterans and wartime at Eastern State Penitentiary.<\/p>\n 2027 Fairmount Ave, easternstate.org<\/a><\/p>\n 2Street Sammies<\/p>\n This popular food truck is parking at Ridge Hall on Nov. 11 to commemorate the occasion with free meals to all veterans from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. As a release notes, this annual event is offered by owner\/operator Nate Baynes, a Veteran of the Air National Guard, who was stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.<\/p>\n In addition to offering free food to those who served, Nate will donate a percentage of sales to Salute 2 Service<\/a>, a Veteran\u2019s charity in Bucks County. Founder and Executive Director, Rodney Wyatt (a former Marine Veteran), created the organization to provide food, clothes, healthcare, and other support to those who have served. This year is extra essential for Salute 2 Service as well \u2014 the nonprofit is currently facing eviction at the end of the year and looking for a new location to house their services.<\/p>\n While at Ridge Hall, locals can also head to Twisted Gingers Brewery, which will be donating a percentage of proceeds to veteran organizations. More information can be found online.<\/p>\n