By By MaryClaire Foster
Since 1978, Veterans’ Day has been celebrated every year on Nov. 11 commemorating the men and women who have served in the military for this country.
This year, Veterans’ Day will be on Tuesday and many organizations and schools around Atmore are recognizing it with events.
The Atmore Nursing Center, in conjunction with Covenant Hospice, held a pre-Veterans’ Day program on Wednesday where six veterans were honored.
The Naval Junior ROTC from Escambia County High School participated in the festivities and Sergeant First Class Robert Skipper was the guest speaker.
Skipper said he was honored to be a part of it and thinks programs like these are important to recognize the efforts of those who served in the military.
The American Legion Auxiliary Unit 90 is hosting a parade that will begin at 2 p.m. at the City Hall and will end at the YMCA.
Any veteran wishing to participate needs to be at City Hall between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Veterans may walk if desired. There will be eight floats and several other vehicles for transporting those who cannot walk.
“The major mission of the American Legion and the Auxiliary is to support the military and to care for the veterans who have served this country,” said Mary Stanley, president of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 90. “We do the parade to honor them and to recall what history has to tell us about this.”
Area schools and banks will be closed in recognition of the day.
Perdido Elementary and Middle Schools are hosting their annual “Salute to Veterans,” program and reception to be held on Monday, Nov. 10.
All area veterans and their immediate family are invited to attend the program which will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the school’s gym.
The post office in Atmore will also be closed Tuesday and on Thursday the USPS Alabama Diversity And Affirmative Action Committee will honor 11 veterans at the Atmore Post Office at 8:45 a.m.
From 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. the committee will be in the PO Box lobby along with representatives of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to celebrate our Native American culture with refreshments for the customers.