A grateful, daylong salute to this area’s veterans will be made with a full schedule of activities on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11.
Highlights of the day will be talks by Dr. Adrian Lewis, a retired Army major and Professor at the University of Kansas at Lawrence. He will speak at the 11 a.m. program at Falls City High School and again at 7 p.m. at the Stalder Gallery at the Falls City Library and Art Center. The latter program will be the opening in the Gallery of the John P. Falter’s original paintings of seven World War II Medal of Honor winners.
Dr. Lewis’ talk at the Gallery will be streamed to the veterans’ dinner at the First United Methodist Church.
A world-renowned expert on World War II, his writings include his first book, “Omaha Beach: A Flawed Victory.” This work is considered the best analysis of the Normandy invasion of June 6, l944, and the horrific Battle for Omaha Beach. Dr. Lewis has taught at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY, the University of California at Berkeley and the University of North Texas at Denton. His books and articles are used at West Point, the Command General Staff College and the Naval War College. He was a major consultant for PBS’s NOVA program, “D-Day’s Sunken Secrets.”
Working with active duty Army and Air Force officers, Dr. Lewis specializes in World War II, as mentioned, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and the more recent military operations, including Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The ll a.m. program in the hymn at the high school will include numbers by the FCHS band and chorus and Sacred Heart chorus. The public is encouraged to attend.
The parade down Stone Street, from 20th to l4th Street, is scheduled for l:30 p.m. and will include veterans’ organizations’ color guards, high school bands and elementary schools’ students.
A reception honoring veterans will be held at ShopKo following the parade. The Stalder Gallery at the Library and Art Center will be open for one hour following the parade.
The busy day will conclude with the veterans’ dinner at the First United Methodist Church at 6 p.m. and the “Heroes” program at the Library and Art Center at 7 o’clock.
Sherry Maddox is the overall chairman and coordinator, which she has been for a number of years.
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