East Texas Veterans Day Events

EAST TEXAS — Several events in East Texas celebrate Veterans Day:

The Historic Aviation Museum at Tyler Pounds Regional Airport is offering free admission to Veterans this month. A program on WWI Thursday covered Trench Warfare, the Air War Escadrilles, the Red Baron and General Blackjack Pershing. A ceremony honoring the Korean War Veterans was held at the Senior Citizens Center on Garden Valley Road in Tyler. Bell Elementary School’s program was Thursday morning in the school cafeteria. Students sang patriotic songs and shared essays they wrote honoring their Veterans. Robert E. Lee High School scheduled a free public concert Thursday evening at 6:00 in the Fine Arts Center. Griffin Elementary and Bishop T.K. Gorman also held events.

Students at Velma Penny Elementary in Lindale served lunch to WWII veterans who were recently flown to Washington D.C., as part of the Brookshire’s “World War II Heroes Flight” program. After lunch, veterans addressed different classes and shared their experiences from the war. Lindale Primary School recognized Veterans with a ceremony. LISD School Board President and Brigadier General James “Red” Brown was the guest speaker.

Local actors in Longview told the story of “Seven World War II Vets” at the Westminster Place nursing home. The actors have written about their lives and read them during a 45 minute performance to honor the Veterans. It detailed their experiences before, during and after the war.

Wills Point High School presents a salute to the veterans by performing a 1940’s USO show at the Hollywood Canteen. Following a Thursday evening presentation, the program is due to be repeated Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and then at 2:30 on Sunday. Ten percent of all ticket sales will go to the Van Zandt County Veterans Memorial. Volunteers are needed to staff the selling of bricks, ball caps and other veterans memorial items.