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MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Minnesota Marks Veterans Day With Statewide Ceremony in Duluth, Honoring Military Service and Connecting Veterans With Support
The November 11 observance brings together military leaders, veterans, families and community members at the Duluth National Guard Training and Community Center, with livestream access for residents throughout the state.
DULUTH, MN (November 11, 2026).
Minnesota is observing Veterans Day on Wednesday with its official statewide ceremony in Duluth, bringing veterans, military representatives, elected officials and families together to recognize those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs scheduled the event at the Duluth National Guard Training and Community Center, 4015 Airpark Boulevard.
A community breakfast and social gathering begins at 8:30 a.m., followed by the official program at 10 a.m.
The event is open to the public and is being livestreamed for residents unable to attend in person.
Veterans Day is observed nationally on November 11, commemorating military service across generations and recognizing both those who served during wartime and those whose service took place during periods of peace.
Unlike Memorial Day, which specifically honors military personnel who died in service, Veterans Day recognizes all who have served.
Military and Community Leaders Participate
The official program includes Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Brad Lindsay and Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke, the adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard.
Other participants include the Duluth Honor Guard, Fond du Lac Honor Guard, Cedar Creek Drum, Minnesota National Guard State Chaplain Lt. Col. Timothy J. Usset, and the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog Marching Band.
Greg White, chair and chief nursing administrator at the College of St. Scholastica, is also among the announced participants.
The range of participants reflects the connections between military service, public institutions, veterans' organizations and the communities in which veterans live.
The inclusion of honor guards and musical participants provides ceremonial recognition, while the gathering creates an opportunity for veterans and families to meet one another and engage with state representatives.
Recognition Beyond the Ceremony
Minnesota's Department of Veterans Affairs provides services extending well beyond annual commemorations.
The agency oversees five state veterans homes and helps eligible veterans and family members access benefits, claims assistance, educational resources, burial services, employment support and outreach programs.
These services are particularly important for veterans navigating complicated eligibility requirements or seeking assistance after leaving military service.
Some veterans may need help understanding federal benefit programs. Others may be seeking employment, education, housing assistance or information about long-term care.
The department directs veterans and families to its website and statewide LinkVet assistance line for additional information.
The availability of those resources gives Veterans Day a practical public-service dimension alongside its ceremonial significance.
Public Access and Transportation
The Duluth National Guard Training and Community Center is providing public parking for attendees.
Overflow parking is available at Arrowpointe Medical Center, 4316 Rice Lake Road, with shuttle transportation to the event.
According to the department's announced schedule, outbound shuttle service runs from 8 a.m. until 9:50 a.m., with return transportation scheduled from 11:15 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.
Residents who cannot travel to Duluth can watch the program through the event page at MinnesotaVeteran.org/Events.
These arrangements are intended to make the observance accessible beyond those able to attend in person.
A Statewide Responsibility
Veterans live throughout Minnesota, from major metropolitan communities to rural counties and smaller towns.
Their experiences vary widely by military branch, deployment history, age and circumstances after service.
A statewide observance provides a shared opportunity to recognize that service without treating veterans as a single group with identical needs.
It also provides an occasion to direct attention toward the public programs available to them.
The effectiveness of those programs ultimately depends on whether eligible veterans can obtain timely information, navigate application processes and receive the assistance for which they qualify.
THE TAKEAWAY
Minnesota's official Veterans Day observance takes place November 11 in Duluth, with a community breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and a formal ceremony at 10 a.m.
The event includes military and community leaders, honor guards and musical participants, with livestream access available statewide.
Beyond the ceremony, the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs continues to provide benefits assistance, veterans homes and other services.
Veterans Day offers an opportunity both to recognize military service and to ensure veterans and their families know where to find practical support.
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