There will be several Veterans Day programs throughout The Daily Home coverage area starting Monday to honor those who served their country and continuing on Veterans Day.There is a special Veterans Day program slated for Tuesday at the Veterans Memorial Wall in front of the St. Clair County Courthouse in Pell City.
“The public is invited and encouraged to attend,” said Joe Johnson, USAF-R, past commander for AL McLaughlin Chapter 27 of the Disabled American Veterans, who is helping organize the event. “It should last less than one hour.”
The actual ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m., but those arriving early can listen to patriotic music, drink coffee and eat donuts donated by Kilgroe Funeral Home and served by the St. Vincent’s St. Clair Hospital Auxiliary prior to the start of the official program.
Johnson will give the opening remarks, and Steve Pederson will open the program with a prayer.
At Tuesday’s program, 9-year-old Jameson Willis, a fourth-grade student at Eden Elementary School, will lead the audience in the National Anthem.
Margaret Rose, senior vice president commander of AL McLaughlin Chapter 27 DAV, will lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
She will also speak about the veterans van, which transports veterans to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Birmingham.
St. Clair County District Court Judge Phil Seay will introduce elected officials and recognize other distinguished visitors.
Myra Keef will read a Veterans Day poem she wrote, titled “Freedom.”
John M. Church will do the “Roll Call of Heroes”.
The program will end with a rifle salute and taps by the Combined Veterans Honor Guard. Pell City High School ROTC cadets will raise the U.S. and Alabama flags to full staff during the playing of taps.
Johnson said the U.S. flag was flown over military facilities in Iraq.
Local vocalist Steve Shafer will sing “Amazing Grace” to close the program.
Shafer and Teresa Carden will sing patriotic songs before and during the program.
Johnson said if it rains Tuesday morning, the program will move in to the St. Clair County Courthouse, in the large upstairs courtroom.
Sylacauga
The American Legion Post 945 Sylacauga Chapter will hold its annual Veteran’s Day ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 10 a.m. at the Veteran’s Track of Pinecrest Park.
Veterans will present and post service flags and participate in prayer. City of Sylacauga employee Joe Hassell, who recently returned from serving overseas, will be the speaker.
There will also be a small, private breakfast for the veterans at the Sylacauga Chamber of Commerce at 8 a.m. Tuesday. A flag-raising ceremony, presented by Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, will be held outside the chamber office at 9 a.m.
Childersburg
Childersburg High School invites veterans and other community members to attend its annual Veterans Day Program on Monday, Nov. 10 beginning at 9 a.m. in the auditorium. All guests are also invited to a breakfast at the high school at 7:45 preceding the program.
Fayetteville
Fayetteville High School will be hosting its annual Veterans Day Program on Monday, Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m. in the school auditorium, followed by a reception.
The keynote speaker will be retired United States Air Force Lt. Col. Lynn Cunningham of Fayetteville, who spent 20 years in the United States Air Force as an intelligence officer.
Members of the Future Business Leaders of America will recognize veterans from various branches of the military, and the Accent Choral Group will perform special music for the program.
The school invites all veterans to attend, but requests that they call the school in advance at 256-315-5550, or call Robbie Stewart at 256-315-5577, or Kathy Landers at 256-378-5261 if they plan to attend.
Daily Home staff writers David Atchison, Kendra Carter and Katherine Poythress contributed to this story.
