The Polk County Veterans Council invites the community to honor the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces at the annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 AM at Veterans Memorial Park, located at 701 West Lime Street near the RP Funding Center in Lakeland.
This year’s event will also commemorate America’s 250th anniversary with the dedication of a new monument honoring Revolutionary War patriot Mary Katharine Goddard.
Mary Katharine Goddard, a pioneering printer and publisher, risked her livelihood and personal safety in support of American independence. In 1777, Goddard printed a historic edition of the Declaration of Independence that included the names of the signers, helping preserve an important part of the nation’s founding history. The America 250 Steering Committee will also host tours of the monuments throughout Veterans Memorial Park following the ceremony.
The annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Parade will also feature the annual Lakeland Veterans Day Parade, which will take place immediately following the ceremony. The parade is scheduled to begin from the RP Funding Center at 11 AM and travel east along Lemon Street into downtown Lakeland. The parade will then turn north onto Kentucky Avenue and conclude at the Munn Park parking lot.
As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence, this year’s ceremony serves as a reminder of the courage, patriotism, and sacrifices that have shaped the United States. The community is encouraged to attend the ceremony and parade as we honor those who have served and celebrate the freedoms they have helped protect.