Veterans Day events, offers being held to thank military members for their service
Amarillo area businesses, organizations and individuals will join the rest of the country in honoring active and former military members as part of Veterans Day this weekend.
WT ceremony being held Friday includes flyover from Cannon Air Force Base
A ceremony is being held Friday at West Texas A&M University in Canyon. The event at the Veterans Memorial on the WT campus includes remarks from Dr. Rodney S. Gonzalez, director of the Amarillo VA Healthcare System; a flyover by the 16th Special Operations Squadron of the 27th Special Operations Wing from Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico; a wreath laid at the memorial; and an armed forces tribute by the Sound of West Texas Buffalo Marching Band. Ubaldo Campa, a sophomore political science major and U.S. Army reservist from Amarillo, will deliver the invocation. WT currently serves nearly 600 military and veteran students.
Here are a few more of the events and offers being held locally in honor of our veterans.
Annual Veterans Day Parade in downtown Amarillo
The Roan-Creek Marine Corp League will host its annual 2023 Veterans Day Parade in downtown Amarillo at 10 a.m. Saturday. The parade route will wind down 11th and Polk Street to 5th and Harrison, with special flyovers by the West Texas Warbirds Flight.
For more information, call 806-433-0864 or email roancreek992@gmail.com or visit https://www.roancreekmcl.net/parade .
Veterans Day ceremony at War Memorial Center
The Texas Panhandle War Memorial Center will its annual Veterans Day Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 11 beginning at 11 a.m. at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial, located at 4111 S. Georgia. The ceremony is free and open to the public, and featured guest speaker is Colonel Donald Ellison Jr.
The program will include an invocation, presentation of colors, pledge of allegiance, the National Anthem and "God Bless America" performed by The Ascension Academy Choir, a flyover by the Panhandle Warbird Flight, recognition of Gold Star and White Star Families, salute to the services, and more.
Amarillo VA presents 16th annual Welcome Home event
The Amarillo VA Health Care System (AVAHCS) will host its 16th Annual Welcome Home Veterans Day event on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Tristate Fairgrounds Rex Baxter Building, located at 3401 SE 10th Ave. in Amarillo.
The Veterans Day event is open to all veterans and their families, regardless if they are enrolled in VA health care or not. The event will feature food courtesy of United Supermarkets, family fun, music, activities, door prizes, resources, and more.
“It is an honor to host this event to ‘welcome home’ our nation’s heroes and thank them for their service,” said Dr. Rodney S. Gonzalez, AVAHCS Director in a news release. “This is the first in person Welcome Home event we’ve hosted since before the pandemic and we could not be happier to bring our Veteran population back together again and celebrate them on Veterans Day.”
CMA to present special Veterans Day concert of patriotic music
Chamber Music Amarillo will host a special event honoring the area's veterans at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with a celebration featuring patriotic music presented by a brass quintet in St. Mary’s Cathedral, 1200 S. Washington St.
Artists include William Takacs, trumpet; David Lough, trumpet; Guglielmo Manfredi, horn; John Shanks, trombone; and Jeremy Lewis, tuba. Tickets for this special concert are $40 and available online through the Amarillo Symphony website at https://amarillosymphony.org/ .
DHDC, WBDC offer discounts for veterans, active military
The Don Harrington Discovery Center (DHDC) and Wildcat Bluff Discovery Center (WBDC) are offering $1 admission for all active military and veterans (with military ID) for Veterans Day.
Both locations will also be offering active and former service members half off their family memberships during their operating hours. The membership discount will only be applicable in person with proof of ID.
DHDC and WBDC’s Visitor Center will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, visit DHDC.org or follow them on their Facebook page.
Free car washes for veterans at Tommy’s Express locations
Tommy’s Express Car Wash is offering a free car wash to all veterans or active military personnel on Saturday, Nov. 11. To find the nearest location near you, visit their website at https://tommys-express.com/veterans-day/ or their Facebook pages.
Kohl's offering discounts for veterans
To commemorate Veterans Day, Kohl’s is offering active and former military personnel, veterans and their immediate families 30% off in stores Veterans Day weekend, Friday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Nov. 12, with a valid military ID.
In addition, the continuation of “Military Mondays” at Kohl’s offers a 15% in-store discount for active and former military personnel, veterans, and their immediate families every Monday, all year long. And the Kohl's Veterans Day collection has been created by Kohl's and immediate family members of active and former military personnel.
Free haircuts at Amarillo locations
Great Clips is honoring veterans with free haircuts at all five of its Amarillo locations, on Veterans Day, Saturday. The company has given free haircuts to more than 4,000 veterans in Amarillo in the last 10 years, according to a news release.
Participating, locally owned Sport Clips Haircuts franchise locations will also donate an additional $2 per haircare service nationwide to support “Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarships” for service members and veterans. People can also donate at the in-store kiosk following a haircut or by texting “HERO” to 71777. Many locations are also offering free haircuts to service members and veterans with valid military identification. Visit www.sportclips.com/hero to find a participating store near you.
Coffee Memorial Blood Center offers special gifts for blood donors
In addition to a free Blaze Coffee Awareness T-shirt, veteran blood donors will receive an American flag lapel pin on Saturday at the Coffee Memorial Blood Center. The center will also be offering information about the American Legion’s Be the One program.
Anyone who is healthy age 16 or older that meets eligibility requirements can give blood. Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777. Walk-ins are welcome.
Bubba’s 33 offers in-person free lunch or raincheck vouchers
Amarillo’s Bubba’s 33 will continue its annual Veterans Day tradition of welcoming veterans and active U.S. military to enjoy free lunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Bubba’s 33, 2813 W. Interstate 40 in Amarillo.
For veterans and active military unable to attend this year’s event, the restaurant will distribute raincheck vouchers, good through May 30, 2024.
Bank of America doubles support for Veteran Loan Fund
PeopleFund is one of 12 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) announcing the expansion of the Veteran Loan Fund, with Bank of America as the lead capital investor, according to a news release. The fund offers an online platform where eligible veterans can benefit from loan capital at below market interest rates and free business coaching.
PeopleFund, an Austin-based CDFI and managing member of the Veteran Loan Fund, has deployed more than $30 million to close to 600 small businesses owned by veterans and veteran spouses in Texas. For more information, visit https://www.veteranloanfund.com .
Gift of smiles: Amarillo dental offices help with free care
During its third annual Smiles “For Freedom” event on Friday, the Brady Dental Group will provide free dentistry for U.S. veterans and active-duty military service members.
“Each Veteran that called to schedule an appointment during the month of October for their exam and x-rays will return on Veteran’s Day for their Free Dental Treatment during our Smiles for Freedom Event,” said Dr. Kimberly Gilbert of Brady Dental Group. “It’s been on our hearts to do this,” said Dr. Gilbert. “Our entire staff has been thinking of ways that we can honor those people whose service to our country allows us to freely do what we love to do.”
For more information, visit bradydentalgroup.com .
Affordable Dentures & Implants in Amarillo gave the gift of a free smile to U.S. Army Veteran Steven Stills, who was in an accident more than 10 years ago and lost half of his bottom teeth, according to a news release. Stills visited Dr. Venkata Pasupuleti at the Amarillo dental office to see what options were available to help him with his dentures problems. Dr. Pasupuleti surprised him with the gift of free dental care to honor him on Veterans Day. “I am just amazed,” Stills said. “I am super grateful for what they are doing for me.”
Legal services offered at area VA clinics
Nov. 4-11 is Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week, a statewide effort in honor of Veteran’s Day coordinated by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation and legal aid programs across the state.
Outside of Texas Veterans Legal Aid Week, veterans can receive legal aid assistance year-round at legal aid clinics, both in-person and virtual, across the state. Assistance and referrals are also provided through a statewide hotline for veterans at Texas Legal Services Center, 1-800-622-2520, option 2 or online at https://texaslawhelp.org/ through the live chat feature.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Veterans Day events, offers in Amarillo area thank military members
