By Annabeth Miller, ShowMe Times Editor

The times they are a-changin’.

After years of the Dexter Veterans Day Parade moving east on Stoddard Street to the City Administration Building for a special program, the parade will transition to a community observance at the Bearcat Event Center with all the students in Dexter school participating.

Delores Bailiff, representing the Daughters of the American Revolution, attended Monday evening’s meeting of the Dexter Board of Aldermen to discuss the changes. The DAR organizes the Nov. 11 observance of Veterans Day.

Mrs. Bailiff told the board that following this spring’s Honor Tour Send-Off for World War II veterans at the BEC, several people approached the DAR about making the transition from a downtown parade to a community ceremony.

“This will allow all of the students to attend and participate. I think they need to see and listen and learn,” she said. The aldermen and Mrs. Bailiff discussed the enthusiasm and attendance at the Honor Tour ceremony, and how important it was for the students to learn of the sacrifices made by America’s veterans.

“We’ll need your assistance, Mr. Banken, at sounding the sirens at 11 a.m.,” Mrs. Bailiff said to Dexter Fire Chief Al Banken.

Mrs. Bailiff explained that since the students will be participating, the ceremony would need to begin earlier on the morning of Nov. 11 to accommodate the school lunch shift schedules.

Mayor Joe Weber expressed the support of the city in the new project, and indicated that the police department would assist with traffic and other essentials, and that other city offices would be available to assist as needed.

Veterans Day originally was Armistice Day, marking the end of hostilities of World War I, when the Armistice was signed “at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month” in 1918. The day evolved to a day to honor all of America’s veterans and officially became Veterans Day in 1954.