Recognition of veterans began early this month and will continue beyond Veterans Day.
Jefferson City - known for its celebration of, gratitude toward and respect for veterans - offers a number of ways to remember and thank U.S. veterans.
On Friday, Mid America Bank hosted a luncheon for veterans and their families at the Wardsville Lions Club. More than 125 veterans enjoyed the "Thank you for your service" the luncheon provided, according to Brian Berhorst, president of the bank. "It's all tied to Veterans Day."
"A lot of the guys just enjoyed sitting around and telling stories," Berhorst said. "I enjoyed listening to them."
And that was a beginning.
The Jane Randolph Jefferson City chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution is hosting a private celebration at 2 p.m. Thursday in Primrose Retirement Community, 1214 Freedom Blvd. The patriotic event is for residents and their families and will feature a proclamation by Mayor Carrie Turgen.
Activities will ramp up that night, when Operation Bugle Boy presents its annual Veterans Appreciation Night. The nonprofit organization, which honors veterans, soldiers and first-responders holds the event every year.
This year's celebratory night, which is sold out, will honor eight Vietnam War veterans and their families. The veterans will represent all area men and women who deserve a homecoming celebration they didn't receive when they returned from Southeast Asia.
Veteran or not, people may participate in the celebration by waving flags and displaying yellow ribbons along the route a motorcade of the honorees is to take. The yellow ribbon is symbolic of gratitude for the veterans' service.
The motorcade, which will include a trolley car on which VIPs will ride, is to leave Candlewood Suites, 3514 Amazonas Drive, about 4:15 p.m. Thursday. It will travel south on Truman Boulevard to Country Club Drive and turn west. The motorcade is to turn west on Business U.S. 50 West and then turn north on Route T. The trip will conclude at the St. Martins Knights of Columbus Hall, 537 Route T.
Operation Bugle Boy President Chris Jarboe said the family of Willie McVea, a U.S. Army soldier who was killed in a blast in Vietnam on Nov. 19, 1968, is to be among the honorees. McVea had volunteered to go on a mission with Don Hentges, of Jefferson City, that day. The blast injured his friend Hentges, who received a medical discharge and a Purple Heart.
Blair Oaks High School hosts its annual Veterans Day celebration at 9 a.m. Friday. The event features a speaker and is open to the public.
Veterans who work at or are served by hospitals and nursing facilities will be recognized.
At about 1:30 p.m. Friday, for example, Heisinger Bluffs, 1002 W. Main St., will host a small, private celebration for veteran residents and their families. They'll enjoy snacks, music and fellowship.
Capital Region Medical Center will give veterans free admission to its Festival of Trees next Sunday, Veterans Day. At 11:11 a.m. that day, retired U.S. Air Force Col. John Clark is to have a presentation at the festival.
The two-day festival begins Saturday at the Goldschmidt Cancer Center, 1432 Southwest Blvd. Decorated trees, wreaths and centerpieces will be staged and holiday music will be piped throughout the center. The festival is 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Also on Sunday, the hospital intends to provide meals to veteran patients and employees.
Riverview Cemetery puts out flags every Veterans Day (Sunday) and gives out lapel pins who visit the cemetery on the holiday.
The Missouri State Museum will host a commemorative tolling of a bell as part of a national event, museum Director Tiffany Patterson said. A ceremony is to begin at 10:50 a.m. Sunday in the Capitol, with the tolling to take place at 11 a.m.
Every year, there is a national tolling of bells to honor people who served in World War I, Patterson said.
"It's a very brief reading," she said. "It's a short moment to remember Armistice."
Participants may bring bells and will discuss the importance of Armistice.
"It's traditional for bells to toll at the passing of someone. It's also common to toll bells in remembrance," she said.
The bell is to ring 21 times, much like a 21-gun salute, Patterson said.
Monday, Nov. 12, is when most area Veterans Day activities are to take place.
Each year, Hy-Vee, 3721 W. Truman Blvd., hosts a free breakfast for veterans, store manager Darrick Sigwerth said.
"The veterans come in and get free breakfasts from our kitchen," Sigwerth said. "We do buffets for special occasions like this. The numbers vary, but it pushes 1,000 every year."
The breakfast begins about 7 a.m. and continues until 11 a.m.
Staff put out extra tables and chairs during the breakfast and try to "turn them over" as quickly as possible.
"It hits pretty hard pretty quick," Sigwerth said. "By 8 o'clock, we're full."
The Veterans Day service at St. Peter Church is 8:30 a.m. Monday. Msgr. Donald Lammers is to be the celebrant. Lammers served in the U.S. Army from 1953-55. He was also a chaplain at the Newman Center in Rolla.
The Mass is offered for men and women who died in service of our country. The public is invited to attend. Veterans and service personnel are encouraged to wear their caps and/or uniforms.
Immediately following the Mass, coffee and doughnuts are to be served at the school.
Jeremy Amick is to present the military burial flag of U.S. Air Force Major Gen. Don Dail Pittman to St. Peter Parish. Pittman grew up in Jefferson City and attended St. Peter High School. He later joined the Army Air Corps and became a fighter pilot.
He was 75 when he died of a heart attack Sept. 11, 2001, while watching coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center on television.
The annual Veterans Day service hosted by the Jefferson City Veterans Council will move this year. Normally, it would be held in the Capitol Rotunda. However, with extensive construction happening at the Capitol and on surrounding streets, the event has been moved to American Legion Post 5, 1423 Tanner Bridge Road.
The program will begin at 11 a.m. Monday, Hentges said.
"It will be easier for people to get to the American Legion Hall. Parking is an issue at the Capitol right now," he said.
Because the occasion marks the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, Patterson is the speaker, Hentges said.
She will bring a display and discuss the history of Armistice Day. The program will include recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the Star Spangled Banner, a presentation of the colors and an address by Mayor Carrie Tergin. A singer will perform patriotic songs. The event will include a memorial rifle firing and Taps.
The annual Veterans Tribute at Freedom Corner is to begin at 9:30 a.m. Monday. The event is held annually at East McCarty and High streets.
The event is to feature keynote speaker Frank Grass, a retired Army general who was born in Arnold. He enlisted in the Missouri Army National Guard in 1969. He served a number of command and staff positions. Former President Barack Obama nominated him to serve as the chief of the National Guard Bureau.
The tribute also involves local high school and college students.