Northwest Iowa — Monday is Veterans Day in the United States, and ceremonies are planned throughout northwest Iowa and the nation.
Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, and the first one was 100 years ago this year, on November 11, 1919, one year after the signing of the armistice that ended World War I.
In Sheldon, two ceremonies are planned. Sheldon High School will hold a Veteran’s Day assembly on Monday, November 11 at 1:20 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Veterans and other community members are invited to attend. The program will include a performance by the Sheldon High School concert band under the direction of Mr. Cliff St. Clair, as well as a performance by the Sheldon High School Jazz Choir under the direction of Mr. Brandon Lenderink. Dr. Ryan Becker from Sanford Sheldon will be the guest speaker. Dr. Becker has served on the 155th Air Force National Guard as a medical professional. Afterwards, refreshments will be served by the Sheldon High School Student Leadership Team for veterans and other adults in the community.
St. Patrick’s School in Sheldon will present their Annual Veteran’s Day Program at 11:00 am on Monday, November 11th in the church. All Veterans and community members are welcome to attend.
The Osceola County veterans are invited to a program put on by the Sibley-Ocheyedan FFA. It’ll be at the Sibley-Ocheyedan gym at 10:00 a.m. on Monday. The public and all veterans are welcome. The ceremony will consist of a welcome, and a short program put on by students. Music will be by the Sibley-Ocheyedan High School Band and Choir. The special speaker will be Marine Tyler Plotz. Special presentations will be made by Sibley-Ocheyedan students. Dessert and coffee will follow, presented by the Sibley-Ocheyedan FFA.
All Sioux County Veterans and their spouses are invited by the Sioux County Veterans Affairs Commission to a free breakfast on Monday, November 11th from 7:30-10 a.m. at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center. There will be a Veteran’s Day Service at the Demco Community Center in Boyden on Monday, November 11, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. The Boyden American Legion invites the public and all veterans to the service.
In Rock Rapids, the Veterans Day ceremony will be at the Central Lyon High School Gym at 10:30 a.m. The speaker will be former fighter pilot Steven Ankerstar. Messages will be given by Central Lyon elementary students, patriotic music will be played, and there will be a rifle salute by the American Legion and VFW Honor Guard.
In George, Clarance Stubbe with the American Legion says that the George Veterans Day program will also be on Monday, November 11th at the George-Little Rock High School Gym at 10:00 a.m. Patriotic music will be played by the George Little Rock High School Band, under the direction of Steve Green. The colors will be posted by Jack Sauter Post 404 American Legion of George. They’ll do the Pledge of Allegiance. The band will play the National Anthem. The George-Little Rock High School Chorus will perform under the direction of Tim Mauldin. Several individuals will also present musical numbers. “Taps” will be played by Dillon Chambers.
The Rock Valley Community Veterans Day program will be at the Rock Valley Community Elementary School. The welcome message will be by Principal Patti Kruger, K-5 students will have the program and will sing songs, there will be a folding of the flag presentation, and the Hoogendoorn family will do the Pledge of Allegiance.
In Primghar, the South O’Brien High School hosts its annual Veterans’ Day Assembly Monday, November 11. The Presentation of the Colors is set for 10:00 a.m. School Superintendent Daniel Moore is the featured speaker with Denny Koehlmoos making closing remarks. A flag folding demonstration will be conducted by Primghar veterans.
