The following activities are planned to commemorate Veteran’s Day:
Strasburg
• Veterans are invited to meet at the Strasburg American Legion Post 77 beginning at 12:30 p.m. to be partnered with a classic car to drive them (if they do not want to walk). At 1 p.m. they will make their way down Holliday Street and then King Street to the Strasburg Square (216 E. King). Banners will be held for each branch by the Sherando National Honor Society and flags will be given out to the residents along the route. We will end with a program in the Square, with the Rev. John Haynes opening with a prayer, Rich Follett, our Poet Laureate, sharing an original poem, music by members of the Strasburg High School Band, and a guest speaker from the American Legion.
Woodstock
• Shenandoah County Sheriff Tim Carter will be the speaker at a memorial ceremony commemorating Veterans Day at 11 a.m. on Friday at American Legion Post 199, 411 S. Muhlenberg St. Lunch will follow.
Mount Jackson
• The Hometown Partnership will celebrate and honor those who have served our country during a Veterans Day ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Mount Jackson Volunteer Fire Department building. This year’s Hometown Hero will be announced. There will be guest speakers, color guard, music by the Mountain View High School Band and awards will be presented.
Front Royal
• Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Evans with Randolph-Macon Academy will be the speaker at a Veteran’s Day ceremony starting at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the Warren County Courthouse. A free lunch will follow for veterans and their families.
• A free lunch will be served at noon at the Front Royal Moose Lodge at 1340 John Marshall Highway, Front Royal.
• A patriotic concert will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday at the Gazebo.
Middletown
• Lt. Col. Cat Schwetke, retired Air Force Intelligence Reserve Officer, will be the speaker at 1 p.m. on Friday commemorating Veteran’s Day at the Veteran’s Memorial Park at 8050 Main St. Schwetke has been stationed in Germany, Korea and the Philippines and with many job-related visits to the Middle East. Her jobs included briefer, analyst, instructor, editor and de-classifier and her assignment ranged from Wing level to Air Staff at the Pentagon to Unified Command. She has a bachelor’s degree in Russian studies and a master’s degree in Arab studies. In case of rain, the ceremony will move to the Middletown Volunteer Fire Department.
• AmVets will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday for a free dinner for all military veterans and their families at 851 Green St. Those attending are asked to bring toys for Toys for Tots.
Stephens City
• Stephens City Mayor Mike Diaz will be the speaker at a memorial service commemorating Veteran’s Day at 8 a.m. on Friday at the Veteran’s Memorial at 5516 Main St. Members of VFW Post 2123 will provide an honor guard with taps and area Boy Scouts will raise the flag.
Winchester
• In honor of Veterans Day, Shenandoah University will host a free screening of “HERE.IS.BETTER.” at 5 p.m. Thursday in Stimpson Auditorium, Halpin-Harrison Hall, 600 Millwood Ave. This documentary explores trauma therapy sessions and gives hope to veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder. The event will begin with hors d’oeuvres at 4:30 p.m. Following the screening, there will be a question-and-answer panel with a dinner buffet afterward. Note: the film contains scenes from combat, a fireworks display, and mature themes of suicide, sexual assault and violence.
• Veterans Day Assembly on Friday at Handley High School. Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. in the Student Union.
• The American Red Cross and the Sons of the American Revolution will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday honoring all veterans at Winchester National Cemetery, 401 National Ave.
• The Winchester Area SPCA will offer free pet adoptions for veterans from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday at the adoption center at 111 Featherbed Lane. Pets for Vets aims to connect veterans with a great shelter pet. Military ID required.
• The Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum will host a Thank-A-Veteran night from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday at 19 W. Cork St. Admission for veterans and their family is free. Representatives from Navy Federal Credit Union, who is sponsoring the event, and AmVets will be on site with information and a fun craft will be ready for kids in the classroom.
• The Veterans Council (made up of commanders of area veteran’s organizations such as the American Legion, VFW, Disabled Veterans, Korea and Vietnam veterans, will hold a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Friday inside the Omps Funeral Home South Chapel at 1260 Front Royal Pike. Robert Wells, a member of the Frederick County Board of Supervisors representing the Opequon District, will be a speaker. A free lunch, funded by the Apple Blossom Festival, will follow the ceremony at American Legion Post 21 at 1730 Berryville Pike.
• In honor of Veterans Day, Shenandoah University will host an Esports event partnering with the Warrior GMR Foundation and Gold Star Gamers. The event will center around the Warrior GMR Veterans Day Valorant Invitational and Smash Bros Open at 11 a.m. on Friday in the university’s Esports Arena on the main campus. Professional esports teams from the Army, Navy, Space Force, Air Force and Coast Guard will challenge SU’s esports team, Regiment Gaming and the Gold Star Gamers, a team composed of teens who lost a military parent. Gold Star Gamer teens will travel to Virginia from all over the U.S. to compete. They will receive a VIP tour of SU’s esports program and participate in a special on-campus ceremony in honor of their late parents.
• Veterans will be treated to a free breakfast buffet from 9 a.m.-noon Sunday at Winchester Elks Lodge 867, 466 Front Royal Pike, Winchester. The event is open to the public. Guests and family are welcome to attend (cost for those who aren’t veterans is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-13, and free for children age 5 and younger). There will be a short ceremony at 11 a.m.
Berryville
• Boy Scout Troop 34 will conduct a flag retirement ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday at Rose Hill Park, 35 E. Main St., Berryville. American flags that are worn beyond repair may be dropped off at the flag disposal receptacle outside the entrance to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9760 at 425 S. Buckmarsh St.
• The Clarke County Veterans Day Service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the county’s Veterans Memorial located on the west side of the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center at 101 Chalmers Court. The event is sponsored by the Berryville and Clarke County governments. Berryville Mayor Jay Arnold will serve as emcee. Colors will be posted and retired by the Clarke County Honor Guard. The Clarke County Community Band will provide music, and there will be a ceremonial wreath laying. Also, the Clarke County Veteran of the Year will be named. In case of inclement weather, the event will move to the second-floor meeting room in the government center. Afterward, VFW Post 9760 will host an open house for veterans and their families. Light refreshments and desserts will be served. The post is located at 425 S. Buckmarsh St.
Shenandoah National Park
In observance of Veterans Day, the Shenandoah National Park is offering free admission to veterans on Friday. The Park is also partnering with Project Healing Waters, a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to our veterans’ physical and emotional healing through fly fishing. Volunteers with the organization will lead programs simultaneously from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday at Dickey Ridge Visitor Center (Mile 4.6) and Byrd Visitor Center (Mile 51) for veterans to pick up tips on fly casting and practice fly-tying. Park staff will also pass out free park passes to veterans from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are two types of military passes, a one-year pass for active-duty military and their dependents and a lifetime pass for veterans and Gold Star Families. Further information is available at https://tinyurl.com/mr748fca.
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