While Sunday is officially Veterans Day, Butler County and veterans groups are planning a number of events for Monday.

There will be a public Veterans Day ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Veterans Affairs Butler Healthcare Auditorium to honor all veterans.

At 10:40 a.m., the annual Butler Veterans Day Parade will be on Main Street, followed by luncheons at several Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts throughout the county, said John Cyprian, director of Veterans Services for Butler County.

Immediately after the parade’s end, former members of the Merchant mariners will have a memorial service in Diamond Park.

These people will speak: the Rev. James Murphy of St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church in Meridian; Walter Luikhart, president of the Western Pennsylvania Merchant Marines; John Gennaro, director of VA Butler Healthcare; and singer Mary Simms. The public is welcome.

The American Legion Post 642 in Chicora will hold a program on Americanism and legion history with a color guard at various locations this week, including Bruin, Chicora and Sugarcreek elementary schools, Concordia Lutheran Ministries in Jefferson Township and the Chicora Medical Center.

Veterans can ride the Butler Transit System’s buses for free on Monday with a pass. To get a pass, veterans can stop at the downtown bus terminal, 113 E. Cunningham St. A veteran ID card, military ID or DD214 papers will be needed to be shown to get a pass.

Cyprian also said a number of restaurants will offer free meals on Monday to veterans who have their veteran or military cards or discharge papers.