Coral Gables holds its inaugural Salute to Veterans at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, on Giralda Plaza, with 101-year-old World War II Navy veteran Dr. Harold “Hal” Silberman as keynote speaker. Farther south, Homestead marks the same day with a ceremony at Losner Park and its 65th annual Veterans Day Parade at noon.
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Harold “Hal” Silberman, a longtime Coral Gables resident who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II, gives the keynote at the Salute to Veterans.
- The Coral Gables ceremony takes place beneath a new overhead flag display installed for the 250th anniversary of American independence.
- Representatives from all six branches of the U.S. armed forces take part, and the Coral Gables Senior High School JROTC honor guard presents the colors.
- Homestead’s free program includes an 11 a.m. ceremony, a parade from noon to 2 p.m., a picnic from 2 to 5 p.m. and a South Florida Youth Symphony concert from 4 to 5 p.m.
- The University of Miami holds a free Veterans Appreciation Day at The Rock Plaza from 10 a.m. to noon.
- Coral Gables city administrative offices close for the holiday, while garbage, trash and recycling collection stays on the regular schedule.
Coral Gables Starts a Veterans Day Tradition on Giralda Plaza
Coral Gables has honored veterans before, but not with a city ceremony on Veterans Day itself. The city’s Veterans Concert and Community Picnic at the Merrick House took place on Sunday, November 8, with music by Miami’s Top Brass and a flag-raising by local Scout troops. The Salute to Veterans on Wednesday is the city’s first ceremony held on November 11, and city leaders are presenting it as the start of an annual event.
“It’s especially meaningful to hold our first Salute to Veterans in the year America celebrates 250 years of independence,” Mayor Vince Lago said in the city’s announcement. He added that he hopes neighbors will come to Giralda Plaza “to thank the men and women who have served our country and to begin a Veterans Day tradition in Coral Gables.”
The ceremony fills a gap on a fall calendar that already brings residents downtown for events such as Fairchild’s Orchids in October weekend in Coral Gables. Giralda Plaza, a pedestrian block lined with restaurants, gives the city a central, walkable setting instead of a parade route.
A 101-Year-Old World War II Veteran Gives the Keynote
The keynote speaker, Dr. Harold “Hal” Silberman, is a 101-year-old World War II Navy veteran who served in the Pacific Theater. After the war, he built a career in medicine. In Coral Gables, the city notes, he has worked to keep older adults active and involved in community life. A speaker who served more than 80 years ago gives the first Salute a direct link to the generation the holiday’s history is built on.
What to Expect at the Salute to Veterans
The Coral Gables Salute to Veterans begins at 9 a.m. and runs until about 11 a.m. Representatives from all six branches of the U.S. armed forces will take part, and members of the American Legion and the Daughters of the American Revolution will be recognized. The program also includes recognition of veterans in attendance, a presentation of colors by the Coral Gables Senior High School JROTC honor guard, live music and family-friendly activities.
The ceremony takes place under a new overhead flag display installed to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. Giralda Plaza is in the 100 block of Giralda Avenue, and the city asks attendees to enter at the east end of the plaza at Galiano Street. The event is free. City administrative offices will be closed for the holiday, but garbage, trash and recycling collection will follow the regular schedule.
University of Miami Adds a Mid-Morning Campus Gathering
Coral Gables residents have a second option a short drive away. The University of Miami’s Veterans Appreciation Day runs from 10 a.m. to noon at The Rock Plaza, 1306 Stanford Drive. The free event honors student veterans, military-connected students, alumni, faculty and staff. It is organized with the university’s Veterans Resource Center and student veteran groups and open to campus and veteran communities.
Homestead’s Veterans Day Runs From Morning Ceremony to Evening Concert
Homestead’s Veterans Day is the other end of the spectrum. The City of Homestead, working with local VFW and veterans organizations, presents a free day of events centered on Losner Park at 104 N. Krome Ave. and the nearby Seminole Theatre.
The day starts with a Veterans Celebration Ceremony at 11 a.m., followed by the 65th annual Veterans Day Parade from noon to 2 p.m. along Krome Avenue in the city’s historic downtown. That count holds up across the years: Homestead held its 47th annual parade in 2008 and its 55th in 2016. A community picnic follows from 2 to 5 p.m., and the South Florida Youth Symphony closes the day with a Veterans Day concert from 4 to 5 p.m. at the Seminole Theatre.
Planning the Trip South to Homestead
CBS Miami lists an RSVP number for the Homestead celebration, 305-895-9840, so families planning to stay for the picnic may want to call ahead. For residents coming from central Miami-Dade without a car, the South Dade bus rapid transit line runs along the corridor toward Homestead. Riders should check holiday schedules before leaving.
Two Ways to Mark the Same Day in Miami-Dade
Together, the two programs show how differently Miami-Dade communities observe Veterans Day. Coral Gables is trying a new format: one morning ceremony on a pedestrian plaza, built around a single keynote and recognition of local service organizations. Homestead offers a full downtown day that has grown over 65 parades, moving from ceremony to parade to picnic to concert.
For families, the choice comes down to time and distance. A morning in Coral Gables can fit before lunch, while Homestead takes most of the day. Residents who want to keep supporting local veterans and other community causes after the holiday will have another chance on Give Miami Day on November 19.
FAQs
What time is the Coral Gables Salute to Veterans?
The inaugural Salute to Veterans begins at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, on Giralda Plaza and runs until about 11 a.m. Attendees enter at the east end of the plaza at Galiano Street.
Who is speaking at the Coral Gables Veterans Day ceremony?
Dr. Harold “Hal” Silberman, a 101-year-old World War II Navy veteran, physician and longtime Coral Gables resident, will deliver the keynote address.
What time is the Homestead Veterans Day Parade?
The 65th annual Veterans Day Parade runs from noon to 2 p.m. on November 11 in downtown Homestead, after an 11 a.m. ceremony at Losner Park.
Are the Coral Gables and Homestead Veterans Day events free?
Yes. Both cities list their Veterans Day programs as free. CBS Miami lists an RSVP number for Homestead, 305-895-9840.
