Veterans Day celebrations held around the valley
Kurt Hogard, commander with the Flathead Valley United Veterans Honor Guard, plays "Taps" during the Veterans Day ceremony at Depot Park in Kalispell on Friday, Nov. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Veterans Day offers the opportunity for members of the community and students to honor and express gratitude to local veterans.
Several special events are happening throughout the Flathead Valley to mark Veterans Day.
The Whitefish High School Student Council hosts the school’s annual Veterans Day Community Event on Thursday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 a.m. in the high school gymnasium.
Columbia Falls High School hosts its Veterans Day Assembly at 10:25 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9.
Flathead High School will recognize veterans during a Veterans Day event on Friday, Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m. during a schoolwide assembly.
Peterson Elementary is hosting its sixth annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10 at 8:45 a.m. The guest speaker is Cameron Wride who will be sharing about his experiences in the Marine Corps, including how it led to his current career as a law enforcement officer and member of the NWMT Regional SWAT team. Afterward, he will lead the school in a cake-cutting ceremony for the birthday of the Marine Corps.
In addition, the students will be singing songs to veteran guests and families. Among those in attendance, will be some residents from the Montana Veterans Home.
The fourth-grade students are hosting their annual service project again this year by collecting items needed at the Veterans Home, as well as items for the NW Montana Veterans Food Pantry.
Bigfork High School will present its Veterans Day Assembly at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 10 in the high school gym.
Kalispell’s annual Veterans Day ceremony will commence at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Depot Park downtown.
The ceremony will begin with the playing of patriotic music. At 11 a.m. there will be a flag raising conducted by the Boy Scouts, followed by a welcome and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Tim Carter, followed by an opening prayer led by Russ Hartford.
Sean Weeks, a retired master sergeant with the Marine Corps, will give the Veterans Day address at 11:15 a.m.
Then the National Anthem will be sung, with the Honor Guard ceremony at the playing of “Taps” at 11:34 a.m. by the United Veterans. The closing prayer will then be said followed by closing remarks and singing of “God Bless the USA.”
The VFW Post 2252 will host a luncheon and refreshments at noon at 330 First Ave. W. in Kalispell.
The VFW Post 4042 will host a spaghetti feed at noon at the Bigfork VFW, 8098 Montana 35.