PORTSMOUTH — American Legion Post 18 and VFW Post 5390 will host a Veterans Day ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11, in the Council Chambers at Portsmouth Town Hall, 2200 East Main Road.

After the ceremony, Kristen Kidd, owner of Thrive Coffee House, 706 Park Ave., will honor veterans by hosting a free buffet with live entertainment from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in honor of the memory of her late father, Carlton A. Mercer. 

A World War I Centennial "Bells of Peace” event will be held at 11 a.m. at the coffeehouse. Attendees are asked to assemble no later than 10:45 a.m. so as not to interrupt the tolling of the bell. To learn more, visit WW1CC.org/Bells.

A certificate ceremony for veterans of the Operation Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom era will be held in the Council Chambers at Town Hall at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13.

Invitations have been mailed to veterans identified through public records. If you’re a veteran of that era who has not received an invitation, contact Carolyn Evans-Carbery at 401/683-9375 or visit www.portsmouthbluestarproject.net to RSVP or send a message.

Vietnam moving wall

In other news, the Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall, a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., will be at Ponagansett High School, 1138 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, through Monday, Nov. 5.

The memorial will be on display 24 hours a day until 2 p.m. on Nov. 5. For more information, contact Chris Stanley at 401/338-6015, or cstanley@fgschools.com. 

Small Business Week

National Veterans’ Small Business Week is Monday to Friday, Nov. 5-9.

For times and locations throughout the state, contact Matthew Speohr, lead economic development specialist, Rhode Island district office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, at 401/528-4574 (office), 202/374-8251 (cell), or via e-mail at matthew.spoehr@sba.gov.

Marine Corps birthday

The Rhode Island State House will host a Marine Corps Birthday Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 10.

All Marines, past and present, along with their families and the general public are invited to celebrate the Corps’ 243rd birthday. There will be a traditional cake-cutting ceremony, a short speaking program, and the Marine Corps flag will be flown over the State House.

For more information, contact Jane Deptula, commandant of the Department of R.I. Marine Corps League, at 401/580-8833 or janie.deptula@gmail.com.

WaterFire Salute

The Sixth Annual WaterFire Salute to Veterans will be held in downtown Providence on Saturday, Nov. 10. 

The full lighting will commence at about 5:30 p.m.

For more information, visit waterfiresalutetoveterans.org.

Veterans’ Expo

There will be a Veterans’ Expo at Bristol Community College, 777 Elsbree St., Fall River, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17.

For more information, contact Cheryl Belisle of the Providence VA Regional Office, at 401/223-3700; or Beth Vezina of Bristol Community College, at 508/678-2811, ext. 2093.

Veterans Corner is a monthly roundup of local news and events that are of interest to veterans.