Ceremony to honor veterans’ service

The annual Nevada Department of Veterans Services Veterans Day ceremony will be held Sunday, Nov. 11, in Boulder City.

This year’s program will mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and will feature a full day of activities at the Nevada State Veterans Home, 100 Veterans Memorial Drive. It is free and open to the public.

“Each year, the Veterans Day ceremony is hosted by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services and sponsored by a different veterans group or veterans service organization,” said Terri Hendry, communications director for the Nevada Department of Veterans Services. “This year, the event is being both sponsored and hosted by the Nevada Department of Veterans Services. Volunteers from the Nevada State Veterans Home are assisting, as they do every year. We are hoping to make this year’s event a bigger one to bring awareness as well as honor and remember World War I veterans since this is the 100th anniversary marking the armistice of World War I.”

The program begins at 9 a.m. with a book signing by Patrick K. O’Donnell, a combat historian and best-selling author. O’Donnell has written 11 books and worked on several films and documentaries covering combat history from the American Revolution to the battle of Fallujah in Iraq.

He will be signing his latest book, “The Unknowns: The Untold Story of America’s Unknown Soldier and WWI’s Most Decorated Heroes Who Brought Him Home.”

The traditional Veterans Day ceremony starts at 1:30 p.m. This year’s program features music by the Henderson Symphony Orchestra and vocalists Laura Schaffer and Phil Esser. There will also be a flyover.

The Nevada State Museum and the State Archives will have some World War I displays and exhibits there for visitors to see throughout the day. Additionally, private collectors will have some World War I memorabilia on display.

There will also be a limited number of 100th anniversary World War I pins for those who attend the traditional ceremony.

To save a seat for the program, go to http://bit.ly/2O0pa2p or contact Josh Loftis at loftisj@veterans.nv.gov or 775-825-9748.

Contact reporter Celia Shortt Goodyear at cgoodyear@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9401. Follow her on Twitter @csgoodyear.