By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Nov. 8, 2002
The public is encouraged to celebrate Veterans Day in Meridian on Monday.
A program honoring veterans will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Doughboy Monument in downtown Meridian.
A small singing group and band from Southeast Middle School is scheduled to perform from 10 a.m. until the ceremony begins.
Scheduled guest speakers include Col. Jim White of the Air National Guard and former U.S. Rep. G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery.
All local elected officials have been invited to attend.
Ginger Grissom Stephens of Meridian will sing the national anthem and local Boy Scout Jesse Henderson will play taps. A color guard from Naval Air Station Meridian will participate.
The program is expected to end at 11 a.m.
According to Jim Swartz, public relations representative for the local Veterans of Foreign Wars committee, there are about 100 entries scheduled for the Veterans Day parade that will start at 3 p.m.
Entries in the Veteran's Day parade will line up on Seventh Street from 26th Avenue to 41st Avenue, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The parade will start from Seventh Street, turning right on 26th Avenue and proceeding to Front Street. It will turn left on Front Street and proceed to 22nd Avenue. The parade will turn left on 22nd Avenue proceeding to 10th Street where the parade will end.
Along with floats and other vehicles in the parade, local bands scheduled to march include Meridian High School, Southeast High School and Northeast High School.
DID YOU KNOW?
Veterans Day, celebrated on Nov. 11, honors veterans of the U.S. armed forces and those killed in battle.
Originally called Armistice Day, the holiday began as a commemoration of the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918.
After World War II the day was recognized to pay tribute to all service members.
In 1954 "Veterans Day" was designated. It is usually observed with parades, speeches and flowers placed on military graves and memorials.
The holiday is called Remembrance Day in Canada and Remembrance Sunday (on the Sunday nearest to Nov. 11) in Britain.