Westbrook will honor its veterans at a Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. on the Town Green.

Veterans Day is held each Nov. 11 to honor those who have served the country. It was originally known as Armistice Day and marked the day the Allied Forces and Germany signed an armistice during World War I. President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954.

The day has a special meaning to those who have served as well as those who have family who served. In order to honor the day, the town will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. on the Town Green. The Westbrook High School chorus and band will perform, and the poem In Flanders Field will be read by a student. Flowers will be laid and poppies will be distributed as well.

Veterans Day is an important day to honor all those that have served the nation and it provides the opportunity for some of the veterans to receive a simple “thank you” from the public. However, the town is hoping to bolster the attendance at the event.

At a September Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, First Selectman John Hall said that last year’s ceremony was only sparsely attended and asked BOS members to reach out to veterans in the community who may be available to attend.

“It’s always been a small gathering, and I really think we can do better as a community to honor the veterans,” Hall said at the time. In addition to more veterans Hall said he would also like to see more people on hand to show their appreciation.

This year, the town reached out to organizations such as the Elk’s Club and American Legion to help spread the word that the town will have a ceremony in hopes that more attendees and veterans will be present.