With Veterans Day around the corner, several events and special offerings are planned to honor area veterans.
On Friday, Nov. 10, Smith-Cotton High School JROTC is hosting its annual Veterans Day ceremony at Smith-Cotton High School. The Tiger Battalion puts this ceremony on every year to honor area veterans and show appreciation.
According to information from Sedalia School District 200, the ceremony has three parts: the breakfast, the ceremony, and the parade.
The breakfast is served to all veterans and their families at 7:30 a.m. Friday in the S-C High cafeteria. Following the breakfast is an appreciation ceremony where the Smith-Cotton JROTC Color Guard will present the colors. The cadets will also place the hats on the POW/MIA table in honor of those who lost their lives. The guest speaker, CSM (Ret.) Rick Morris, will close the ceremony.
The parade will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, in downtown Sedalia.
S-C JROTC will also participate in the Veterans Day ceremony hosted by local veterans organizations at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Pettis County Courthouse.
Several other area schools are also planning veteran appreciation programs.
Smithton High School will host a Veterans Day assembly at 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10. The keynote speaker will be Kevin Zbornak. During the assembly, donations to support the Honor Flight program will be collected.
The Green Ridge School District will host a Veterans Day breakfast at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, followed by an assembly at 9:30 a.m. Veterans will be served a biscuits-and-gravy breakfast.
Pettis County R-XII School District in Dresden will host a Veterans Day program at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 9.
The American Legion Post 131 and VFW Post 2513 will host a Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10 at Post 131, 733 E. Young St. in Warrensburg. Col. Illya K. Thomas will be the guest speaker.
According to information from the American Legion, Thomas is the commander of the 509th Mission Support Group at Whiteman Air Force Base. He commands the largest group on the base, with six squadrons and 1,800 active duty and civilian personnel. Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1991 and then earned his commission through the Officers Training School in 2001. He has had assignments in North Carolina, Arizona, Illinois, Texas, Rhode Island, Nebraska, Louisiana, Washington, D.C., and Korea. He has deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
During the event, members of the TRIAD-AFJROTC will post the colors and the joint honor guard will perform volleys and Taps. A light lunch will be served. All veterans and the public are invited to attend.
Missouri State Parks is offering a voucher for a free night of camping for any veteran or active-duty military member who camps at a Missouri State Parks campground Saturday, Nov. 11. The veteran must be staying the night of Nov. 11 and show identification of veteran/active-duty military status when checking in to receive a free camping coupon.
Veterans and active military members are also invited to take free tours of Missouri state historic sites Friday, Nov. 10, through Sunday, Nov. 12, with valid identification. For more information, visit mostateparks.com.
To have a Veterans Day event included in the Democrat in print and online, email news@sedaliademocrat.com.
