Multiple Veterans Day Events planned in Hunt County

Nov. 6—"I'll never forget the day my family and I heard the news from two casualty officers that my father had gone missing in his second tour in Vietnam," Jim Ayers said at last year's "Waves of Glory" veterans tribute in Commerce.

He made those remarks after hurriedly setting up more than 200 flags in the Commerce City Park that morning, because there was severe weather the previous night, which prevented him from doing so earlier.

"When I'm up here, in the dark, setting up flags and wondering why I'm doing this, it's not hard for me to remember," Ayers added.

It is in this spirit that multiple Veterans Day programs are being presented this week as a simple "thank you" to those who set aside their personal plans, goals and dreams, and chose to serve their country in the military ... especially those who didn't come back after their service and didn't get to pursue those plans, goals and dreams.

Below, is a list of multiple Veterans Day-related events planned for this week in Hunt County:

—Greenville ISD Veterans Day Program: 10:30 a.m. Thursday inside the Greenville High School gym. The program will feature performances by the band, choir and Navy ROTC color guard, as well as a bagpiper and several speakers. A catered lunch for veterans and their families will follow.

—Texas A&M University-Commerce Vigil Flame: On Thursday, with the opening ceremony (lighting of the flame) at 10:30 a.m. and closing ceremony (extinguishing of the flame) at 4:30 p.m. by the Sam Rayburn Student Center on the A&M-Commerce campus. The opening ceremony will feature the Princeton Navy Junior ROTC color guard as well as the A&M-Commerce Chorale and members of the Pride Marching Band. Veterans Vance Michael Clarke and Josephy McClain will also receive special recognition at the opening ceremony. The closing ceremony will include a 21-gun salute from the Hunt County Veterans Honor Guard.

—Cookies and Cards for the Troops: 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Bland Elementary School at 5123 FM 2194 in Celeste. The school's PTO will be collecting items for care packages to be sent to veterans and active duty members of the military. Requested items are: toilet paper, 9 volt and AA batteries, tuna foil pouches, protein bars, small pack nuts, ziplock freezer bags, black click writing pens, hearty canned soup and chili, plain Vienna sausages, individually wrapped sanitizer wipes, small sanitizer bottles, "trial size" liquid laundry detergent (no pods).

—Celeste Junior High School Veterans Day Program: 10 a.m. Friday, in the Celeste Junior High School gym at 200 South 5th Street in Celeste.

—Greenville Veterans Day Parade: 11 a.m. Saturday, in downtown Greenville, starting at the corner of Lee and Houston Street, and continue to Wright Street. Veterans are invited to ride in Jeeps that will be in the parade, courtesy of the Hunt County Jeep Club. A veterans luncheon will follow at noon at Ridgecrest Church. Call (903) 259-2593.

—"Waves of Glory" installation in Commerce: Opening ceremony at 3 p.m. Saturday, at Commerce City Park (at the corner of Aldridge and Park Street). This year's installation includes more than 270 flags, each adorned with a tag sporting a veteran, current member of the military, or a first responder's name and photo on it. The keynote speaker will be retired Army sergeant Charles Smith, who served in occupied Germany in the early 1950s.