Veterans Day falls on Saturday this year, and government offices will be closed Friday in recognition, as that is the federally-designated day of observance. Many events honoring veterans will be held Friday, including the parade.
Mail will not be delivered Saturday; as a result the Quill's weekend West Plains Gazette will arrive in subscribers’ mailboxes on Monday.
Here is a roundup of area events celebrating veterans:
A Veterans’ Breakfast will be served at 8:15 a.m. Friday in the Bears Dean, the Willow Springs High School FEMA shelter. While the breakfast is exclusively for veterans, an assembly hosted by the high school’s Family, Career and Community Leaders organization at 9:45 in Munford Gym on the school campus is open to all. Guess speakers scheduled are Jeff Conger and Courtney Foster.
West Plains High School will host breakfast for veterans and their family members at 7:30 a.m. Friday at the high school, followed by its Salute to Veterans assembly at 8:30 a.m. Call 417-256-6150 for more information.
At 8:30 a.m., Fairview School on K Highway in West Plains will host a Veterans Day assembly with student presentations and performances from the school band and choir. All veterans are welcome.
The West Plains Veterans Day Parade will begin lining up at 10 a.m. behind the West Plains Armory, continuing down Webster Avenue. The procession will begin at 11 a.m., making its way through downtown, following its traditional route: Beginning at People’s Park on Broadway, it will move east down Main Street, around the south side of the square, back onto Main Street to St. Louis St., where it will disperse at the West Plains Civic Center. Call Danny Brown, 417-293-0443, for more information.
From 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., during the parade, Segs4Vets will hold a hot dog lunch fundraiser outside the main entrance of West Plains Bank and Trust Company, 11 Court Square. Funds raised will benefit the organization which aims to rebuild a foundation of independence, community and family for veterans and active duty members who sustained severe injuries or illnesses that resulted in permanent disability while serving this country. Learn more at www.segs4vets.ngo.
The Southern Ozarks Community Orchestra will perform in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Star Theatre in downtown Willow Springs. “A Salute to Our Heroes” will honor veterans and recognize their service. It is free to the public and will include an Honor Guard presentation of colors, songs from all service branches sung by high school choir members and a reading of Johnny Cash’s poem, “The Ragged Old Flag,” by veteran Avery Parker with the orchestra performing “America the Beautiful” in the background. The event is sponsored by the Willow Springs Arts Council.
