Veteran's Day
Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia
The Chesterfield County Memorial Ceremony, sponsored by Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSV), will be held on Friday, November 11, 2023, at 2:00 pm.. You don’t have to be a Veteran to join The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia (CHSV) to honor those who have served us. The ceremony is free and members of the public are encouraged to participate in this event.
Notice: For 2023, our Veteran’s Day Program has been relocated to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Building. The physical address for this location 10300 Courthouse Road, Chesterfield, VA 23832 (Chesterfield County Fairgrounds) See the Flyer
History of Veterans Day World War I – “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" We, Chesterfield County, VA, will honor our veterans.
T he"Poppy Lady...
Poppies symbolize this hallowed holiday and are distributed and sold by veterans groups all across this great land. Moina Belle Michael, was a school teacher, so touched by McCrae’s poem, she decided to write one herself. Moina was a recipient of the American Legion Auxiliary Distinguished Service Medal. After her death the Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in her memory on May 10, 1944. A Liberty Ship launched during the Second World War carried her name," Moina Michael" and The Georgia General Assembly designated the stretch of U.S. highway 78 between Athens and Monroe as "The Moina Michael Highway. She is credited with the "first sale" of poppies when she collected $10 dollars from a group of soldies andsearched many stores forthe right flower to commemorate the WWI soldiers in 1918. She bought the red poppies that were growing in Flander's Field in France. After that, she continued every year to do the same. She became known as the "Poppy Lady".Poppies symbolize this hallowed holiday and are distributed and sold by veterans groups all across this great land. Moina Belle Michael, (pictured at top left in the photos) was a school teacher, so touched by McCrae’s poem, she decided to write one herself. Moina was a recipient of the American Legion Auxiliary Distinguished Service Medal. After her death the Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp in her memory on May 10, 1944. A Liberty Ship launched during the Second World War carried her name," Moina Michael" and The Georgia General Assembly designated the stretch of U.S. highway 78 between Athens and Monroe as "The Moina Michael Highway. She is credited with the "first sale" of poppies when she collected $10 dollars from a group of soldies andsearched many stores forthe right flower to commemorate the WWI soldiers in 1918. She bought the red poppies that were growing in Flander's Field in France. After that, she continued every year to do the same. She became known as the "Poppy Lady".
Our Events
When scheduled, our Events Calendar includes: Annual Winter Lecture Series, Genealogy Workshops, Rotating Exhibits, Tours of Civil War sites, Paranormal Investigations, Elegant Themed Teas, Summer Camps for Scouts, Home-Schoolers and children age group 8-12
Annual fundraisers include: Ever-Popular Antiques Evaluation, Westchester Commons Summer Concert Series: Concert events are held from 5:30-8:30 on Thursday evenings in the Westchester Concert Field, on Main Street at Westchester Commons. On the day of the Concert, you can help us raise funds for this event.
We sponsor the Annual Chesterfield County Veterans Day ceremony at the 1917 Courthouse and support the preservation of our historical sites and Civil War parks. In addition, the Society promotes county history through public speaking engagements, information tables at local festivals and programs for educational outreach.
Notice: For CHSV Events : Please Review the Refund Policy stated above.