While members of the United States military sacrifice their time, their energy and sometimes their lives for their country, their service can sometimes go unrecognized. But starting this weekend, residents of the Golden Triangle will honor their service with a variety of Veterans Day celebrations.
In Columbus, a parade celebrating veterans will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, with a route leading from the Municipal Complex to the county courthouse. The parade will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the WWI monument at the courthouse, Mayor Keith Gaskin said.
“I don’t think we could ever do enough to thank our veterans for their service, and the sacrifice that they make for the freedom of our country,” Gaskin said. “Any time we can do something to say thank you to them and honor their service is a special day.”
Airmen from the Columbus Air Force Base will be marching in the parade, according to a Tuesday release from the base. 14th Flying Training Wing Commander Col. James Blech will also speak during the ceremony.
“Veterans Day is our opportunity as a nation to recognize the selfless sacrifices of generations of Americans who answered the call during times of peace and war,” 14th Flying Training Wing Deputy Commander Col. Jon Cato said in an email to The Dispatch. “We are honored to represent the United States Air Force in the Columbus Veterans Day parade and celebrate our bond with the community.”
Gaskin said the city did not have a parade last year, but the tradition is returning this year to honor veterans from both the city and county.
Citizens are encouraged to line the streets between the start and end of the parade to show their support of the veterans.
The morning will also include a Corvette show in the parking lot behind City Hall, Gaskin said.
While Starkville has also celebrated veterans with a parade for the past few years, Kayla Gilmore with KMG Creations said that this year, planned road work on Main Street prevented a parade downtown. But Gilmore is still planning a special celebration of veterans Saturday in the Travis Outlaw Center at the Starkville Sportsplex.
“We would like to call out the residents of Starkville to show support and cheer for our veterans,” Gilmore said in a press release sent to The Dispatch Tuesday. “We are thankful for the men and women who leave their families to protect the freedom of this country. We are truly blessed.”
The celebration will start with a military resource fair from 9-10:30 a.m., with about 20 vendors total coming who may be able to help veterans and their families, Gilmore said. Following the resource fair, there will be a “Celebrating our Veterans” program starting at 11 a.m.
“It’s important that we show homage and … appreciation to them, and to let them know that they are supported, because they go through a lot of different things,” Gilmore told The Dispatch. “Some people are still battling PTSD, or not having their benefits.”
The program will include an address from keynote speaker Ronald Gatewood, Jr., an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran who served in Iraq in 2005 with the Army National Guard, the release said.
The program will also feature appearances by Evan McClelland, Trebulldawgs, MSU Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, MSU Army ROTC, Asia Ellis, Starkville High School Singers, Starkville Cowboys Cheerleaders, Kiley McClelland, SHS Junior ROTC and West Lowndes Air Force Junior ROTC. There will also be an invocation by Rev. Abdural Lee and a proclamation presented by Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins.
In West Point, West Point Growth Alliance Director Lisa Klutts told The Dispatch in an email that there will be a Veterans Day Program at 11 a.m. Monday upstairs in City Hall. The program will honor veterans generally, along with the city’s Veterans of the Year, Staff Sgt. Sheryl Woolbright and Staff Sgt. Ontario M. Perry.
In Caledonia, Mayor Betty Darnell told The Dispatch in a text message that the city will host a parade on Monday. Line up will begin at Ola J. Pickett park at 10 a.m., with the parade starting at 11 a.m. The parade will go through the school, Main Street, Wolfe Road and end at the park.
A program will be held immediately following the parade at the veterans memorial, with Judges Jim Kitchens and Michelle Easterling speaking.
Editor’s Note: This is an incomplete list of events happening in the Golden Triangle celebrating Veterans Day. To submit your event for possible publication in our calendar, please email [email protected].
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
