Aledo’s Veterans Day ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Aledo Veterans Plaza.
This year’s ceremony will feature guest speaker Capt. Lena Kaman, commander of Navy Reserve Region Readiness and Mobilization Command Fort Worth. A highly decorated Naval aviator with more than 4,200 flight hours, Kaman has served in combat operations, commanded Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, and dedicated her career to leadership, service, and national defense.
Veteran-owned Yummy Café & Sweets will serve complimentary breakfast tacos and coffee for attendees.
All area veterans, their families, and community members are invited to join.
Weatherford College will have its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Kramer Veterans Flag Plaza, west of the Doss Student Center.
This year’s guest speaker is the plaza’s namesake, Ed Kramer. Kramer is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. He is also the owner and president of Power Service Diesel Additives, the nation’s leading diesel additive manufacturer.
A dedicated community advocate, Kramer has served a number of area organizations, including time as a board member of Weatherford ISD. He is a past president of the Project Opportunity Foundation and a former director and longtime supporter of the Weatherford College Foundation, along with a long list of other civic contributions of time and resources.
The event is free and open to the public. Visitor parking is available in the North Lot, accessible from East Park Avenue.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a canned food item to support WC’s Phi Beta Delta, an honor society for international students, which is hosting a food drive throughout November to benefit local veterans.
WC student veterans will present the U.S. and military flags, and Law Enforcement Academy cadets will serve as the color guard. Members of the WC choir and Hadley Kibbe, assistant rodeo coach, are scheduled to perform. Lisa Winegar, WC social sciences instructor and retired U.S. Army colonel, will serve as emcee.
With Veterans Day just a few days away, Weatherford will be hosting its annual American Legion parade at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. The parade route begins at the Ninth Grade Center and travel north down Main Street.
Immediately following, a free event that began last year will be returning to Downtown Weatherford from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At its inaugural event, the North Texas Veteran’s Business Council featured food trucks, kids’ events, demonstrations from the Weatherford Police Department’s K9 Unit, military vehicles and more — all bringing attention and community awareness to veterans from near and far to thank them for their service. There was also a proclamation read by Weatherford Mayor Paul Paschall that officially commemorated Nov. 11 as Veterans Day.
This year will be similar but larger with more varied vendors – about 80 in total — and a dedicated kids area, co-chair Mark Lusk said.
The kids zone will have a bounce house and face painting and other activities for children. In addition to the vehicles from the National Vietnam War Museum in Mineral Wells, the Parker County Cruisers will be having a small-scale car show. The Parker County Pickers will be playing music throughout the day and choirs from seven elementary schools will sing patriotic songs.
The Veterans Business Council boasts 40 members and its primary mission is to connect veterans to local support groups and people, help them find jobs and simply be there to help when needed.
If anyone is interested in joining the 501[c]3 or wants to offer their services and/or make donations, meetings are at 9 a.m. the first Tuesday each month at Shep’s diner, 202 Fort Worth Highway. More information is available at the group’s website, https://ntxvbc.org/ or on their Facebook page.
— Melissa Winn, The Community News
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