Veterans Day arrives Nov. 11, and local communities will be honoring servicemen and women with a series of events.

Established in 1919 as Armistice Day, the Nov. 11 holiday marked the one-year anniversary of the armistice signed between Germany and Allied forces to end World War I. After World War II, Armistice Day was expanded to honor the veterans of both world wars. In 1954, the U.S. Congress officially changed the holiday's name to Veterans Day and President Eisenhower asked Americans to celebrate the holiday by honoring the servicemen of all American wars.

Traditionally, Veterans Day services are held at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month (the exact hour the Armistice was signed in 1919), so most local events will begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday (unless otherwise noted).

Locally, Veterans Day observations will include memorials, parades, luncheons, a concert and more. Here's an overview of Wednesday's events by community:

Carlsbad

-- The Rotary Club of Carlsbad and the Army and Navy Academy will host a Veterans Day ceremony and parade at 11 a.m. on the academy's parade field at 2605 Carlsbad Blvd. The ceremony will include a proclamation by Carlsbad mayor Bud Lewis and speakers retired Brig. Gen. Steve Bliss and retired Brig. Gen. David Brahms. Other festivities include a wreath-laying ceremony and an aircraft flyover. Call 760-476-0788.

-- Students and staff at Aviara Oaks Elementary School will honor veterans and active duty military personnel at the annual flag-raising ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 13 at 6900 Ambrosia Lane. Veterans and active duty personnel are invited to a 7:30 a.m. reception before school in the auditorium and then will be recognized at the flag ceremony at the flagpole. Call 760-331-6000.

Encinitas

San Diego Botanic Garden will offer free admission for all veterans, active military and their families from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Wednesday) at 230 Quail Gardens Drive in Encinitas. The $2 parking fee will also be waived for military on Veteran's Day. Call 760-436-3036.

Escondido

-- The Allied Veterans Council and the Military Tribute Organization will hold a Military Tribute at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Veterans Day program at 11 a.m. by the Wall of Courage in Grape Day Park, 321 N. Broadway. A dedication of new names on the wall also will be held. Lunch will follow at the Veterans Memorial Building, 230 Park Ave. Call 760-746-7931.

-- The Escondido Adventist Academy will have a "Veteran's Day Concert" at 10:50 a.m. at 1301 Deodar Road. Join the school to honor the men and women who have served or are currently serving our country. The concert features the academy kindergarten through grade 12 concert choirs, sonabella, and chamber singers. Call 760-746-1800.

Fallbrook

The community of Fallbrook and VFW Post 1924 co-host the annual Veterans Day Parade and observance starting at 10:30 a.m. downtown. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. in the Village Square. A light lunch will be served immediately afterward at VFW Hall, 1175 Old Stage Road. Call 760-728-8784.

Menifee

The Kay Ceniceros Senior Center hosts its annual Veterans Day Ceremony and Barbecue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Newport and Evans roads. Menifee City Councilman Scott A. Mann will serve as keynote speaker. All those who attend will receive a free lunch. Call 951-672-9673.

Murrieta

The city presents its seventh annual Veterans Day parade at 10 a.m. with a military flyover and a performance of the national anthem. The parade begins at Washington Avenue and Ivy Street and heads down Washington to B Street. It will end across from Murrieta Elementary School. At noon, a groundbreaking ceremony will be held for a veterans memorial in Murrieta Town Square Park. Free flags will be given to the first 500 people. A patriotic celebration at the park will include a Field of Honor exhibit organized by the city and the Rotary Club of Murrieta that will remain on display through Saturday. Call 951-304-7275 or www.murrieta.org.

Oceanside

At 10 a.m., the Combined Veterans and Fraternal Organizations of North San Diego County, Tri-City Area, will host its annual observance at the Oceanside Elks Lodge, 444 Country Club Lane. Organized for the past 21 years by Jim and Jeanne Evans, the celebration usually draws about 350 people. All veterans are encouraged to wear their distinctive headgear and medals. After the program, a free light lunch will be served. Call the lodge at 760-433-1561 or the Evanses at 760-727-9027.

Poway

The Fred L. Kent VFW Post 7907, the American Legion and the Fleet Reserve Association are co-sponsoring a Veterans Day observance at 11 a.m. in the Creekside Plaza shopping center on Poway Road. The VFW Post will host a lunch after the ceremony at 12342 Old Pomerado Road. Call 858-748-7907.

Rancho Bernardo

The annual observance at the Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial will take place at Webb Park at Avena Place, off Bernardo Center Drive. At 10:30 a.m., patriotic music will be performed by the Third Marine Air Wing Band from MCAS Miramar. The ceremony, organized by the Gen. J.P. Holland Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7766, will begin at 11 a.m., featuring an invocation, flags presentation and a color guard from the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve's 4th Tank Battalion. This year's speaker is retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral John M. Nyquist. Please bring your own chairs to the ceremony. Call 858-674-1711.

San Diego

-- The United Veterans Council of San Diego County will host its 23rd annual San Diego Veterans Day Parade at 11 a.m. downtown. This year's theme is "Welcome Home Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans." Marine Gunnery Sgt. Nick Popaditch and an honor guard of recent war veterans will be grand marshals. The parade will begin at Cedar Street and continue south on Pacific Coast Highway past Navy Pier to G Street. Entries include marching bands, color guards, troops, antique cars, dignitaries and floats. Visit www.sdvetparade.org.

-- The USS Midway Museum will host its largest Veterans Day celebration to date with a celebration on the flight deck at 3 p.m., featuring San Diego Padres announcer Jerry Coleman (a U.S. Navy veteran), entertainment by N.R.G., an appearance by the Parkview Little League champions, a sky-diving demonstration and patriotic ceremonies. During the day, screenings of the History Channel's "WWII in HD" will be shown, and children can take part in family activities; Navy Pier, 910 N. Harbor Drive; $17, adults; $13, seniors; $9, youth (ages 6 to 17); veterans get in free on Wednesday; Call 619-398-8252 or www.midway.org.

San Marcos

The San Marcos Senior Center is hosting "A Salute To Our Veterans" with a concert by the "Palomar Pacific Music Men" at 1 p.m. at 111 Richmar Ave. The event starts at noon with a spaghetti lunch from Bruno's. Tickets are $10. Call 760-744-5535.

Solana Beach

-- Naval Flight officer Jon LaBruzzo will be the featured speaker at Santa Fe Christian School's annual celebration at 10 a.m. at 838 Academy Drive. LaBruzzo will share his experiences in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, where he completed four aircraft carrier deployments. Recently, he has served as speechwriter for Gen. David Petraeus and is in command of the Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility at NAS North Island. Veterans are invited to a special breakfast at 9:15 a.m. Reserve at 858-755-8900, ext. 1020, or visit sfcs.net.

-- At 11 a.m., the city of Solana Beach and Solana Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5431 will co-host a ceremony at the La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave. The program will include music by the Santa Fe Christian High School Band, a color guard from the Camp Pendleton Young Marines and a special guest speaker. Call 858-720-2453.

Temecula

The city's fourth annual Tribute to Veterans begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Temecula Community Center in Ronald Reagan Sports Park. Organized by the Veterans-Temecula Valley, the event will feature appearances by Pearl Harbor survivor the Rev. Robert Rufatto, who was aboard the USS Utah when it was torpedoed by Japanese pilots on Dec. 7, 1941, and several members of the Tuskegee Airmen, the corps of black American pilots who broke the color barrier in the Army Air Corps during World War II. Temecula Mayor Maryann Edwards will be the keynote speaker. And several Temecula sixth-graders will be recognized for their award-winning essays and poems on "Why We Honor Veterans." The park is at 30875 Rancho Vista Road. Call 951-676-1984.

Valley Center

The Valley Center/Pauma School District Music Boosters will present the annual Veterans Day Tribute Concert at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Valley Center High School, 31322 Cole Grade Road. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Performing will be music students from different schools in the Valley Center/Pauma School District, ranging from middle school to high school. Highlighted are the Valley Center High School marching and jazz bands, the Valley Center Middle School advanced and jazz bands, and choirs from both schools. Donations for the program will be accepted at the concert. Refreshments will be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to the Valley Center/Pauma music programs. Tickets are available free online at maxine.vcpusd.net or vcmusicboosters.org. Call 760-749-2888.

Wildomar

The city of Wildomar will honor current and veteran military personnel with a patriotic program at 3 p.m. at Wildomar Cemetery at Palomar and Gruwell roads. Call 951-677-7751 or visit cityofwildomar.org.