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Veterans Day in Charleston: Honoring Service, History, and Local Heroes

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Veterans Day in Charleston: Honoring Service, History, and Local Heroes

Charleston holds Veterans Day with a kind of deep, Lowcountry stillness—the kind that settles over the marsh just before sunrise. Our city’s military legacy is woven into nearly every corner of the region: from the Revolutionary War fortifications on Sullivan’s Island to Joint Base Charleston, where thousands of service members and families continue to shape our community today. Landmarks like the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point, the H.L. Hunley submarine, and the African American Medal of Honor Monument offer powerful reminders that Charleston has long been a place where stories of service and sacrifice live side by side with the beauty of the coast. Veterans Day invites us to pause and reflect on those stories, honoring the courage, resilience, and dedication of the men and women who served our country.

Charleston offers several powerful ways to commemorate the holiday. The Veterans Day Parade winds through historic downtown each year, filling the streets with marching bands, service organizations, and families honoring loved ones. Over at The Citadel, the annual Veterans Day Review is one of the most moving tributes in the Lowcountry, complete with a parade of cadets across Summerall Field and a ceremony honoring veterans from every branch. Patriots Point is offering free admission for veterans on November 11, Charleston County Parks is offering complimentary entry at select parks, and local favorites like Fleet Landing, Vicious Biscuit, and Rodney Scott’s BBQ are sharing meal specials as a thank-you to those who served.

Beyond the holiday, many local organizations support veterans year-round. Wounded Warrior Project provides mental health resources, career programs, and community support for post-9/11 veterans in the Lowcountry. Lowcountry Veterans Home offers transitional housing and stability for veterans facing homelessness, helping them rebuild independence with wraparound services. Fisher House Charleston provides free lodging for families receiving care through the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, keeping loved ones close when it matters most.

Whether you spend Veterans Day attending a ceremony, visiting a historic site, supporting a veteran-owned business, or simply sharing a meal with someone who served, Charleston offers countless ways to honor the meaning of the day. At Coastal Island Properties, we’re grateful for the veterans in our community and beyond—and we join the Lowcountry in offering heartfelt thanks to those who have served and sacrificed for our country.