Local communities honor veterans with events

CHICO >> Veterans far and wide will be honored on and before Veterans Day with several events.

Chico

In Chico, there will be a Veterans Day event at the Elks Lodge located at 1705 Manzanita Ave. at 11 a.m. Friday. The event is open to the public. There will be a presentation regarding women in the military by Gil Houston and a presentation by the color guard. 200 American flags will be placed on the fence along the Chico Cemetery.

Hot dogs and beans will be served after the presentation. Vietnam Veteran Mike Halldorson will be giving a reading entitled “What is a veteran?” He said 300 plus people are expected to attend.

At 2 p.m. there will be a Ring of Honor event at Chico High School. Veterans who attended Chico High are honored in a monument at the school with panels displaying the names. The monument is almost completed. Names are placed around the Ring of Honor. People can buy a brick with a name on it honoring veterans for $125.

Paradise

In Paradise, there will be an event at the Veterans of Foreign Wars on Friday, Nov. 11 located at 6544 Skyway. According to Commander Keith Taylor, hot dogs will be served for all whoattend. There will be a ceremony with the national anthem, the color guard will complete a flag presentation and pledge of allegiance and the honor guard will present. A World War II veteran will be honored. There will also be a 21 gun salute honoring veterans. Taps will be played.

Gridley

In Gridley, there will be a concert at 7 p.m. Friday at the guardian building at Gridley High School put on by the Gridley Veterans of Foreign War. The Oroville Community Concert Band, under direction of Bob Schofield, will play patriotic music, according to Commander Ed Kawasaki.

Oroville

In Oroville, there will be a parade and luncheon. The parade is hosted by the Exchange Club and begins at 11 a.m. and will start at Fifth Avenue and Montgomery Streets. The grand marshal for the parade is World War II veteran Bill Glaspie, who has lived in Oroville for many years. A float with some of Glaspie’s extended family will ride behind the grand marshal vehicle. At noon, veterans can indulge in a free spaghetti luncheon at The Fraternal Order of the Eagles at 2010 Montgomery St. The luncheon costs $11 for non-veterans.

Businesses

Several restaurants and stores are giving out free meals or offering discounts to honor veterans on November 11 in Chico. Military identification must be presented.

Kohls, located at 1505 Springfield Drive, is offering a 30% discount and AARP also offers a discount.

Chili’s will be serving free meals from a select menu. Chili’s is located at 1908 East Twentieth St.

Logan’s Roadhouse, located at 1900 East Twentieth St., will be serving a free meal for veterans.

Red Lobster, located at 2010 Business Lane, will be serving a free shrimp lunch with two sides from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All Starbucks locations will be serving a free hot or iced tall coffee for veterans, military members and military spouses all day.

Applebees, located at 2030 Business Lane, will be serving from a set menu for veterans all day.

Denny’s, at 675 Manzanita Court, will offer a free breakfast for veterans from 5 a.m. until noon. The breakfast comes with pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage.

Little Caesars, located at both 118-A West East Avenue and 598 East Eighth Street, will be serving free lunch combos.

Krispy Kreme, located at 2060 Business Lane, offers a military discount of 10% all year.

Wendy’s, located at 2421 Cohasset Road, offers free drinks or frostees all year for veterans.