Published: November 11, 2008 12:25 am      

Veterans will be honored at various events

Local military veterans will be honored from morning until evening today during several activities planned by the HEARTS Veterans Museum, the American Legion, local schools and other organizations.

According to Charlotte Oleinik, HEARTS Veterans Museum director, the purpose of the events is to honor and call attention to current military forces and the many veterans in the Walker County area.

“We’re going to start Veterans Day off with a special presentation to honor our local veterans at 9 a.m. at Sam Houston Elementary,” she said. “We’ll also hold a similar presentation at 2 p.m. A lot of our schools are holding events to honor veterans, and we’re all really glad to see that.”

At 10 a.m., the 10 military veterans residing at Carriage Inn, will also be honored. One of the veterans is also expected to make a brief address.

“Following the morning events, the American Legion is holding a Veterans Day appreciation luncheon at the Elks Lodge,” Oleinik said. “Ceremonies will begin right at 11 a.m., and a stew dinner will follow.”

Following Tuesday morning’s activities, a Veterans Day banquet will be held at Huntsville’s First Baptist Church beginning at 6 p.m.

“We’re going to start the banquet off with a silent auction, and the proceeds are going to go directly into a scholarship we award each year to a Sam Houston State University ROTC cadet,” Oleinik said. “Then, at 6:30 p.m., we’re going to have a Veterans Day dinner, and one of the most prestigious parts of that dinner is when we recognize one individual veteran with a special Eagle Award.

“We’ll also have the Huntsville Men’s Choir and a group of musicians from Madisonville performing during the event, and state Rep. Lois Kolkhorst may also be joining us.”

U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady said he will be attending the event.

Oleinik said tickets for the banquet will be on sale at the HEARTS Veterans Museum for $20 each during the weekdays leading up to the event.

On Wednesday, an additional presentation of the Texas Fallen Heroes Memorial wall will also be made during the Huntsville Rotary Club’s 12 p.m. meeting, and Thursday’s activities will include a 5 p.m. spaghetti fundraiser for the museum sponsored by the Elks Lodge.

“This whole set of events is being called Veterans Awareness Week, and it is all in observation of Veterans Day,” Oleinik said. “We just want to honor our veterans, and these events are mainly a way for us to remember all of the things these guys have done for us.”

For more information about any Veterans Awareness Week events, contact Oleinik at the HEARTS Veterans Museum at (936) 295-5959.