As friends and family members look on, left, incoming Commander Col. David Medeiros, above right, receives the flag from outgoing Commander Col. Charles Petrarca Jr., above left, during the 56th Troop Command Change of Command Ceremony on Sunday at Camp Fogarty in East Greenwich.

The Providence Journal / Connie Grosch

This week, thousands of veterans and their supporters will organize in every corner of Rhode Island, New England and across America to honor those who have served their country, whether in war or peacetime. Veterans’ week is a time for all Americans to support our veterans no matter how we may feel about the military’s current or past involvement in various global conflicts. Everyone can do something to make a difference in the lives of veterans. When you see a veteran this week, make a special effort to express your gratitude for their service.

The following listings are but a few of the many ceremonies planned for this week. See the Lifebeat section and www.projo.com for a complete listing of all events.

The following events will occur on Wednesday, Veterans Day:

•At 7 a.m., Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 325 will host a memorial service at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter. All Vietnam veterans, widows, families and the public are welcome.

•At 8:30 a.m., the Bristol Veterans Council will have a wreath-laying ceremony at the War Memorial Garden at the Burnside Building on Hope Street, Bristol, along with the playing of taps. A 9:45 a.m. interfaith service will be held at the Rhode Island Veterans Home, 480 Metacom Ave., followed by an 11 a.m. program at the Veterans Home featuring speaker Armand Pereira, an Iraq War veteran.

•At 9 a.m., Armstrong-Gladding Post 69 will host a memorial service and wreath laying with taps at the Spring Vale Cemetery, 1125 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence (opposite St. Margaret’s Church), at the gravesite of Walter Gladding.

•At 9 a.m., American Legion Post 18 will host the annual Veterans Day ceremony indoors at Portsmouth Town Hall which is open to the public.

•At 9:15 a.m., a Blue Star Memorial By-Way Marker will be dedicated at Route 1 and West Main Street in North Kingstown, followed by a parade at 10 a.m. Starting four years ago, the Plum Beach Garden Club decided to clean up Route 1 traffic islands and place a Blue Star Memorial marker there in recognition of all military personnel, veterans and their families. Through the efforts of Karen Barbera and other garden-club members who did the planning and fundraising for the ambitious landscaping tasks, the group has adopted the area and will continue to have fundraisers to maintain it. For more information call Karen Pizzaruso at (401) 295-1910.

•At 10 a.m., Armenian American veterans will gather for a memorial service at the Armenian American Veterans’ Monument at the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery.

•At 10:30 a.m., a Veterans Day parade hosted by Scituate Post 19 will step off at Institute Lane and Main Street proceeding to the Congregational Church at the Scituate Commons.

•At 11 a.m., a Veterans Day ceremony will be held onboard the Battleship Massachusetts in Fall River.

•At 11 a.m., the Burrillville Allied Veterans Council will hold its annual memorial ceremony in Veterans Park at The Bridgeway in Pascoag.

•At 11 a.m., Cumberland’s veterans’ groups will conduct a memorial observance at the Cumberland Monastery Memorial grounds led by Town Council President Richard Schatz. There will be music by the Cumberland High School band and presentations by American Legion Post 14 and Auxiliary units, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 22 and Cumberland Police Sgt. Douglas Ciullo.

•At 11 a.m., La Salle Academy, 612 Academy Ave. in Providence, will present honorary diplomas to World War II veterans who were forced to leave school before graduation to serve in the Armed Forces. Recipients include students who left La Salle in good standing without graduating, served honorably and, upon returning from the war, never received a high school diploma. For more information call Jeff Dennard at (401) 351-7750, ext. 188.

•At 11 a.m., the public is invited to attend Pawtucket’s Veterans Day ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park, Roosevelt Avenue and Exchange Street.

•At 11 a.m., the United Veterans Council of Newport County and Conover-Leary VFW Post 406 will conduct a memorial ceremony in front of Newport City Hall. The Newport Artillery Co., the Rogers High School Army Junior ROTC, Newport County veterans’ organizations, clergy, city and legislative officials will participate. Rear Adm. James Wisecup, president of the Naval War College, will deliver remarks.

•At 10 p.m., the World War II documentary film “Navy Heroes of Normandy” will make its television debut on PBS stations Cox 708, Verizon 508, Comcast (Southern MA) 819 and DirectTV 36. For more information call Tim Grey at (401) 862-3422.

•On Friday and Saturday, the Rhode Island Board of Rabbis will honor Jewish war veterans at services in area synagogues. Check with the individual synagogues for service times.

•Lowe’s stores until Nov. 15 are offering a 10 percent discount on purchases for active, reserve, honorably discharged and retired military personnel and their families. The discount is available on purchases up to $5,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military identification card or other proof of service. Sales via Lowes.com, previous sales and purchases of services or gift cards are not eligible for the discount. The offer is not redeemable for cash and is nontransferable.

Meetings

•R.I. House Veterans’ Affairs Permanent Advisory Council Monday in Room 135 at the State House at 10 a.m.

•Disabled American Veterans: Lawson-Raiola Chapter 15, Tuesday at 2 p.m., in the Bisbano Building North, Veterans Home in Bristol; Mount Pleasant Chapter 21, on Thursday at 7 p.m., at Knights of Columbus Dillon Council, 1675 Douglas Ave., North Providence.

•American Legion and Auxiliary: Providence Post 1, Wednesday, at 1 p.m., at Luigi’s Restaurant, 1357 Hartford Ave., Johnson; Berard-Desjarlais Post 88, 111 Chapel St., Harrisville, will assemble on Wednesday at Veterans’ Park in Pascoag, at 11 a.m.; Post 39, Thursday at 7 p.m., at 1958 Post Rd., South Kingstown; Scituate Post 19 will host a fundraiser spaghetti supper on Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m., and ticket information is available from Russell Adams at (401) 647-7092.

•Korean War Veterans Association: West Bay Chapter 2, Wednesday , at 7:30 p.m., at VFW Post 449, 197 Providence St., West Warwick; Northern R.I. Chapter 3, Wednesday at the Glocester Senior Center, 1210 Putnam Pike, Glocester, at 7 p.m.

•U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 78, Wednesday , at 7:30 p.m., at the Aspray Boathouse, Pawtuxet Village, Warwick.

•The Reserve Officers Association Department executive committee, Thursday at the Harwood Army Reserve Center, 385 Niagara St., Providence, at 7 p.m.

•The Military Officers’ Association of America Narragansett Bay Chapter will have a 6 p.m. dinner meeting at Liliana’s Restaurant in the Holiday Inn at Routes 1 and 138 in North Kingstown on Friday with a guest speaker on Bay sea creatures; reserve by Monday by calling Bob Mason at (401) 294-4824.

•The Retired Enlisted Association Narragansett Bay Chapter 79 will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Silvia VFW Post, 134 Shove St., Tiverton.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars Kelley-Gazzerro Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston, Sunday at 9:30 a.m.

Send veterans’ meeting and news items to George W. Reilly at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or write to The Veterans’ Journal Column at The Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902. Veterans’ meeting and feature items can be read and posted free at http://projothebeat.com/.