Public events to honor local veterans will begin a few days before Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11.
The annual Mid America Bank Veterans Day Luncheon will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at the Wardsville Lions Club. This free lunch is to honor men and women (and spouses) of the Armed Forces, past and present. Those planning to attend should RSVP to Rachael Schulte at [email protected] or 537-635-0019.
Also Thursday, Operation Bugle Boy's Wave 'Em If You Have 'Em event leads up to Veterans Appreciation Night. The Wave 'Em If You Have 'Em event will start at 4 p.m. along Amazonas Drive in western Jefferson City. Veterans who received the Purple Heart will be the honored guests and travel in a motorcade from Candlewood Suites to the St. Martins Knights of Columbus Hall in St. Martins for a dinner and program to follow. The route goes from Amazonas Drive, left on Truman Boulevard, right on Country Club Drive, to Business 50 in Apache Flats, right on Route T in St. Martins and into the Knights Hall. Supporters should find a safe spot along the route and wave flags or banners as the motorcade passes.
The featured speaker at this year's Veterans Appreciation Night will be Donna Rowe, a triage nurse who served in Vietnam. All 500 tickets for the event have been spoken for, according to organizers.
Operation Bugle Boy is a nonprofit honoring current soldiers, veterans and first responders.
Blair Oaks High School will hold its annual Veterans Day Celebration on Friday. There will be a breakfast in the cafeteria at 8 a.m. and a formal ceremony at 9 a.m.
On Veterans Day itself, Nov. 11, celebrations include the annual free breakfast for veterans at Hy-Vee on West Truman Boulevard. The buffet-style meals will be served from 6-11 a.m. Store Manager Rod Dolph said they expect to serve around 1,000 people. In addition to the free breakfast, veterans will also receive 10 percent off their grocery total at Hy-Vee on Veterans Day. During the event, Hy-Vee and Hallmark will offer complimentary cards to customers with the opportunity to express appreciation to active-duty military members overseas.
St. Peter Catholic Church, 216 Broadway St., will hold its annual Veterans Day Mass at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 11, and doughnuts and coffee will be served in the school gym after the service.
At 9:30 a.m. Nov. 11, the annual Veterans Tribute at Freedom Corner, sponsored by the East Side Business Association, will take place. Located at the intersection of High and McCarty streets in Jefferson City, students from Lewis and Clark Middle School will be featured, as they have been working on projects about what the American flag means to them. Veterans will speak, and other remembrances will take place.
The annual Veterans Day ceremony sponsored by the Jefferson City Veterans Council will be at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at American Legion Post 5 on Tanner Bridge Road. Organizers had planned to hold the ceremony at the Missouri Capitol, as in the past years, but the ceremony was moved due to construction currently taking place. David Hunter, a Vietnam veteran who was wounded multiple times and was awarded the Purple Heart, will be the featured speaker. Taps and a memorial firing of arms will take place. The ceremony is open to the public; lunch will be provided.
All day on Veterans Day, military veterans will receive one free choice entrée on Veterans Day at Chick-fil-A on Missouri Boulevard in Jefferson City. Veterans must present military identification or proof of service.
The PBS film "Almost Sunrise" will be shown from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 11 at Capital City Cinema on East High Street. A community discussion will follow the film. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Seating is limited, so those who plan to attend are asked to reserve their seats at forms.gle/axZWzoiiDs7vEnFu8.