Central Arkansas sets events to celebrate Veterans Day
Central Arkansas will celebrate Veterans Day with a variety of events throughout the weekend:
TODAY
Hendrix College will dedicate its new stadium and plaza at 12:30 p.m. before its Warrior football team plays against Rhodes College at 1 p.m. at its campus in Conway. The stadium — Young-Wise Memorial Stadium and Plaza — is named for alumni Robert Young, who was killed in World War I, and Benjamin and Jeremy Wise, who were killed during separate actions in Afghanistan.
SUNDAY
U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., will be the keynote speaker at Apostolic Church’s special veterans service at 10:20 a.m. The church is located at 4314 Landers Road in North Little Rock. Cotton served nearly five years as an active-duty infantry officer and did combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Boy Scouts Color Guard, Troop 170 will make a presentation of colors, and a special video tribute to veterans will be played.
U.S. Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark., will be the special guest speaker at the Annual Veterans Day Celebration at 10:50 a.m. at Life Line Baptist Church, 7601 Base Line Road in Little Rock. Griffin is a lieutenant colonel the U.S. Army Reserve and served in Iraq in 2006. Little Rock City Director B.J. Wyrick also will be a guest speaker.
All veterans and active military with appropriate identification will receive a maximum of four admissions free from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Museum of Discovery, 500 President Clinton Ave. in Little Rock.
MONDAY, VETERANS DAY
The Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs will host its annual Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the River Market east pavilion in downtown Little Rock. Gov. Mike Beebe will speak. The 106th Army Band and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Chorale will perform. Printable car tags are available at www.veterans.arkansas.gov. Attendees are also offered free admission to the Clinton Presidential Center all day.
North Little Rock is hosting its Veterans Day Ceremony at 2 p.m. at the North Little Rock Veterans Memorial at Laman Plaza on the grounds of the William F. Laman Library, 2801 Orange St. The keynote speaker will be Paul Suskie, former city attorney and a lieutenant colonel in the Arkansas National Guard. Mayor Joe Smith will open and close the ceremony. City Aldermen Debi Ross and Linda Robinson are to read the names of the former North Little Rock residents who died in combat, which are inscribed on the memorial’s walls.
A ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. at the M.M. Ebberts American Legion Post 1 at 315 E. Capitol Ave. in Little Rock and include a POW/MIA remembrance ceremony, recognition of the post’s members who have belonged to the group for more than 50 years and a balloon release. The post is Arkansas’ oldest.
Maumelle will celebrate Veterans Day with a 4 p.m. ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at Lake Willastein. The event is organized by the Maumelle Players. There will also be a ceremony at 2 p.m. at the Academics Plus Charter School to honor veterans and to dedicate a new flagpole.
The Jacksonville High School Choir will host a Veterans Day Concert at 7 p.m. in conjunction with the Jacksonville Museum of Military History. “Salute Through Song” will take place at the museum, 100 Veterans Circle in Jacksonville. The museum will not charge admission Monday during normal business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. An Arkansas Flag Field display will be showcased through Nov. 16.
Cabot will host an American Legion Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m. at the American Legion Armory in Cabot at 300 Commerce Drive. U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford will be in attendance.
The Army Corps of Engineers will waive day-use fees at its recreation areas Monday for veterans, active members and their families. Affected lakes in Arkansas and Missouri include Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Clearwater, Greers Ferry, Nimrod, Blue Mountain, Millwood, Dierks, De Queen and Gillham, and the Arkansas River. This waiver includes boat-launch ramp and swim beach fees. Camping fees and reservation fees for special facilities will not be waived.
Meadowcliff Elementary School in Little Rock will hold a patriotic concert at 1 p.m., featuring its choir students and the color guard from the Cloverdale JROTC.
Karilyn Brown, president of the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery Beautification Council, will be the speaker at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum ceremony at 4:30 p.m., 120 Riverfront Drive in North Little Rock. After her speech, a “tolling of the bells” ceremony will be held to honor fallen submarine veterans.