A Rockville veteran of the United States Army will be the featured speaker as the city honors veterans of our nation’s armed forces at 11 a.m. on Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11, at Veterans Park.
The ceremony, which is open to the public, will include a wreath laying, a military salute by the American Legion Post 86 Honor Guard and a bell tolling to honor World War I veterans, part of a national bell tolling initiative organized by the United States World War I Centennial Commission. (Learn more at ww1cc.org/bells.) A reception will follow at American Legion Post 86, at 2013 Veirs Mill Road.
IF YOU GO
What: Veterans Day Ceremony
When: Sunday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.
Where: Veterans Park, intersection of Route 28 and Rockville Pike.
Parking: Free at Sandy Spring Bank, 611 Rockville Pike.
This year’s featured speaker is Michele Marsden. Marsden enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps in 1975 in the delayed-entry program, entering active duty in January 1976. Her first duty assignment was to Fort Ord, California, followed by a two-year tour in the U.S. Army Garrison in South Korea.
After receiving an honorable discharge after five years of active duty, she enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve 416th Engineer Command near Chicago for a one-year enlistment, which turned into 17 years of reserve service. During that time, she earned the rank of sergeant major at age 38. Marsden retired from the reserves in 1997.
Since then, she has worked as a professional trainer, first in private industry and now in the federal government as a training specialist with the Heath Resources and Services Administration in Rockville.
For more information, visit www.rockvillemd.gov/veteransday, email specialevents@rockvillemd.gov or call 240-314-8620.