City of Salem Honors Veterans this November

In observance of Veterans Day, Salem City offices will be closed starting at 4:00pm on Thursday, November 9^th, and throughout the entire day on Friday, November 10^th.

The City of Salem 2023 Veterans Day ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in the Salem High School auditorium (77 Willson Street, Salem). The ceremony will include the Salem High School Band and the Salem High School Marine Corps JROTC. Mayor Dominick Pangallo, members of the Salem City Council, State Senator Joan Lovely, and State Representative Manny Cruz will be in attendance to present greetings from the City and the Commonwealth. The Veterans Council will present City of Salem Wartime Service Medals to eligible Salem veterans during the ceremony. After the ceremony, there will be a collation at VFW Post 1524 on Derby Street; members of the public, as well as all Salem veterans, families, and friends are especially invited to attend.

In honor of Veterans Day, parking will be free for everyone at all City of Salem parking garages, parking lots, and on-street meters on Friday, November 10^th and Saturday, November 11^th. 

“Salem honors and respects those who have served our nation,” said Mayor Pangallo, “I am proud to stand with our Veterans Council in expressing our City’s deepest appreciation for the sacrifices made by our service members and their families. These are just a few small ways that our community can share our gratitude for all that our veterans have done for us. I hope all who are able will join us for the ceremony at Salem High School on the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”

At all times, Veterans may park for free in the City of Salem. Any individual with a Veteran license plate or a military passenger plate may park for free at any on or off-street metered City parking space, or any off-street parking space requiring payment via a kiosk or using app-based payment. The policy does not include fees for parking in garages. This policy applies only to parking fees and does not invalidate any other underlying regulation governing a parking space. All non-fee related regulations – such as time limits, no parking restrictions, resident parking rules, handicapped parking regulations, and so forth – remain in effect.  The City of Salem hereby affirms its commitment to providing free parking for veterans and offers veterans without a military plate the opportunity to seek ticket forgiveness by presenting proof of their military service to the Veterans’ Service Agent and Director of Traffic and Parking.

Veterans in Salem are encouraged to contact the City’s Veterans Service Officer, Kim Emerling, at (978) 745-0883 to find out if they are eligible for any potential state or federal benefits to which their service may entitle them. The VSO will assist veterans in applying for those benefits. Salem also provides the maximum property tax relief allowable under state law for disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and Gold Star parents. For more information about applying for this property tax exemption, visit https://www.salemma.gov/assessors/files/personal-exemptions-fy24 or call (978) 619-5618.