Each year on November 11, men and women who have served our country are honored with celebrations, parades, and even simple ‘Thank Yous’ from fellow community members.
Soldotna Veteran of Foreign Wars Post Commander Mike Meredith says a Veterans Day celebration is planned for 11:00 am Wednesday, November 11, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex.
Cmdr. Meredith: “We’ll tell about how Veterans Day came about, we’ll have the MIA, Missing in Action table set up with two World War II vets explaining what it stands for and what it means. We’ll have a 21 gun salute and we’ll play Taps at the end and we’ll also have a mock-grave for fallen veterans that are no longer with us, we’ll lay poppies on there because poppies are a sign that we’ll never forget, we’ll never forget our fallen brothers.”
The event will be hosted by the local VFW, American Legion, and the American Veterans posts and Meredith says he and fellow commanders will speak about those organizations’ roles in the community.
For anyone who cannot attend the event, Meredith suggests a simple gesture of appreciation.
Cmdr. Meredith: “I’m a Vietnam veteran and it’s always nice to hear somebody say ‘Welcome home’.”
Banks and offices for the State of Alaska along with the Cities of Soldotna and Kenai will be closed in observation of the holiday.