Veterans Day will be recognized on Monday across the nation. However, many local programs honoring veterans will be held starting Saturday.
Saturday programs
The Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary Unit 58, Gloucester, will host a celebration honoring all veterans who have served the country Saturday at noon at the DAV Chapter Home, located at 6265 Professional Drive, Gloucester.
Special recognition and tokens of appreciation will be given to World War II veterans, according to Shirley Goodwin, an organizer of the program.
A light lunch will also be provided and guest speakers will include Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross), along with several Gloucester dignitaries.
“There will be special music, fun and fellowship and we want to honor you,” Goodwin said.
Also on Saturday, the Marine Corps League Middle Peninsula Detachment 1317, in conjunction with Yorktown Detachment 1173 and Bravo FAST Company at Yorktown Weapons Station, will hold a memorial service in honor of Lt. Gen. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller.
The day will begin at 7 a.m. with the Marines of Bravo FAST Company running a 31-mile relay. The runners will start from the Gloucester Point Shopping Center parking lot and will continue to Puller’s gravesite, which is located in Saluda.
The Gloucester and Middlesex sheriffs departments, as well as the American Legion Post 75 Riders, will escort the runners.
Chaplain Paul Anderson will conduct the service honoring Puller beginning at 1 p.m. at Christ Church, Middlesex. Members of the Bravo FAST Company will provide the Color and Honor Guard; the Young Marines from Newport News and the Gloucester ROTC cadets will also each have a Color Guard. Middlesex High School band will provide the music.
After the ceremony, visitors are invited to attend a cake-cutting ceremony in the Parish Hall next to Christ Church to celebrate the 237th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Other refreshments will also be served.
The former home of Puller in Saluda will also be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Sunday programs
American Legion Post 75, Gloucester, in partnership with the Middle Peninsula Detachment #1317, will host a Veterans Day ceremony in front of the Gloucester Courthouse building at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Bravo Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Co. from the Naval Weapons Station, Yorktown, will provide Color and Honor Guard and the Gloucester High School NJROTC will provide Color Guard.
Marine Corps Maj. John South will be the guest speaker at Sunday’s program in Gloucester. South, a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School, the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, holds a master’s degree in religion from Liberty University in Lynchburg, and has been a certified personal trainer with the American Council on Exercise since 1998.
In 2010, South was deployed to Helmand Province Afghanistan as the operations officer for the Afghan National Security Forces Development section for Regional Command. He is currently with Bravo FAST Company, Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment in Yorktown.
American Legion Post 83 of Mathews will be holding its annual Veterans Day dinner and awards ceremony on Sunday beginning at 6 p.m. at the post home in Hudgins.
Participants will enjoy a catered dinner and hear remarks from Middlesex County Sheriff David Bushey. According to Post 83 spokesperson Roy Walker, Bushey served for six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He graduated Honorman from boot camp, receiving the top Leatherneck Award.
Bushey was also selected for posting to Marine Barracks Washington D.C. Presidential Honor Guard and was assigned to the White House and Special Ceremonies under Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.
At the Pentagon, Bushey served at the National Military Command Center and was Directorate of Joint Chiefs of Staff Force Security.
Members will also receive awards for 2012-2013 during the Post 83 dinner. The cost of the event is $15 per person. Because of limited seating, reservations are requested. Call 725-0842 to make a reservation or leave a message on the answering machine at the Post Home at 725-7422.
All proceeds will go toward veterans’ programs in Virginia.
Monday
American Legion Post 75 will also host a Veterans Day dinner at the Post Home at White Marsh Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Master Sergeant Paul Miller, past commander of Post 75, will be the guest speaker and all area veterans are invited to attend.