Didi Wayland attended the 2015 Veterans Day celebration at Town Hall

April 20. Veterans Day, which is observed annually on Nov. 11, will become an official town holiday starting this fall. The Town Board approved the change by a 4-0 vote at their April 18 pre-agenda meeting. Commissioner Dave Gilroy was absent.

Veteran’s Day is observed every year behind Town Hall where the names of Cornelius veterans are chiseled in stone at the Veterans Monument at Rotary Plaza

The addition of the 11th official town holiday will cost the town $12,800 annually according to Town Manager Anthony Roberts.

“We’ve been looking at ways we can be more competitive in attracting talented people to the town” Roberts said ” and we noted that while we have ten official holidays, the state has 12, including Veterans Day and a third day at Christmas. Surveys have shown that some 76% of those contacted already observe Veterans Day so I propose we make it an official town holiday.”

The commissioners quickly approved the proposal, and several questioned aloud why the day hadn’t been made official before now. “With all the veterans festivities going on around town, it seems strange it has never been formally recognized before” said Mayor Pro Tem Woody Washam. “I’m glad we will do so now.’

The additional funds to cover the holiday will be factored into the proposed 2017 town budget which must be approved by July 1.