Veterans Day is November 11th, which honors those who served in the armed forces while our country was at war. Regardless of the observance, America regards our servicemen and women as heroes and seeks to show appreciation for his/her willingness to protect our nation. Locally, Montgomery County has several Veterans Day celebrations this year. Let’s check out where you want to go this Saturday to honor our veterans or to be honored as a veteran.

Montgomery County Veterans Day Celebration

This event will be held at the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park, which sits at 1776 Freedom Blvd. in Conroe. It begins at 9:00 a.m. New recruits will be sworn into the United States Army at this celebration. There will also be a groundbreaking for the new education and visitor center. Additionally, there will be a patriotic musical showcase.

Salute to the Holidays

The Presbyterian Church in Conroe off Loop 336 is hosting a musical event called, Salute to the Holidays, on Saturday, November 11th. This event begins at 5:00 and runs until 7:00 p.m. It will be a blend of patriotic songs as well as some holiday music. Be prepared for a silent auction and bake sale, too. Tickets are $25 a person.

50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War POW Homecoming

The Heritage Society is hosting this event at the Owen Theatre in Conroe. This is a free event. They have invited Colonel James Ray, who is a graduate of Conroe High School as well as Texas A&M University. He served our nation during the Vietnam War and was taken prisoner after he had to eject from his fighter bomber. Unbelievably, he was a POW for over six years. Come hear his story. I’m sure it will be an eye-opening experience.

22 for 22 Veterans Day Run

Did you know that an average of 22 veterans commits suicide every day? Unfortunately, that is a staggering but true statistic. Jeremy Stalnecker has committed to running twenty-two marathons in twenty-two days as he seeks to bring the need for intervention to light. This run is the first in that series. Therefore, come out and join him. There is a 5K, 10K, and a full marathon. Additionally, there will be bounce houses, food, and live music. This event is hosted by Mighty Oaks Foundation. It starts at 8 a.m. at Heritage Park in Conroe.

As you can see, there are many ways that you can honor our veterans this year in the Lake Conroe area. Veterans Day celebrations are varied from musical performances to a marathon. At a minimum, you can always say, “Thank you!,” to any veteran you know. So for all of those who have served in our armed forces, we say, “Thank you for your service!”