BOISE – There are a lot of ways to say “thank you” to America’s veterans.
On Wednesday, the nation will celebrate Veterans’ Day.
In the Treasure Valley, there are many special ceremonies planned to honor those who served our country.
Here is a list of some of those ceremonies:
- Veterans’ Day program at Idaho State Veterans Home honors veterans past, present & future
- Veterans' Day ceremonies, sponsored by Boise Valley POW-MIA Association, will be held at the Idaho State Veterans Home - Boise, 320 Collins Road. The program will begin at 11 a.m. with an Eleven-Bell ceremony performed by Jack Harp, Senior Advisor, Boise Valley POW-MIA Association. Brigadier General Gary Sayler, Assistant Adj. Gen., Idaho Air National Guard will speak, and Lt. Gov. Brad Little will be on hand to read the proclamation and provide remarks. Also speaking will be Mark Stevensen, Chairman of the Board of the National League of POW-MIA Families.
- This year's theme, "Freedom Isn't Free," will honor all veterans - past, present and future. All service men and women are invited to attend and be recognized, particularly those who have recently returned from Iraq or Afghanistan. Members of the Kuna High CAST and members of the Boise Valley POW-MIA Association will be this year's escorts and ushers.
- Due to construction in the area, people wishing to attend the ceremony must enter the grounds through the 5th and Fort Street entrance.
- In conjunction with the Veterans' Day program, the Air Force Sergeants Association Chapter 1164 will hold a 24-hour run to raise funds for the "Beds for Vets" program at the Idaho State Veterans Home. This run will have participants from Mountain Home Air Force Base and Gowen Field, and will start on Nov. 10 at 11 a.m., concluding at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Veterans' Day. Their goal is to raise funds to purchase as many beds as possible. Anyone wishing to contribute can do so at the starting point - the front entrance of the Idaho State Veterans Home. Funds raised will be presented during the Veterans' Day program on Veteran's Day.
- Veterans assembly honoring Chief Warrant Officer Jesse Donald Phelps to be held at 9 a.m. at the Nampa High School gymnasium.
- Phelps is a former MIA whose remains were recently brought from Vietnam to Idaho. He was a member of the Nampa High graduating class of 1955.
- Family and friends are also working with school officials to create a memorial honoring Phelps in front of the school.
- DIRECTIONS: Head west on Interstate-84 until you get to 3rd exit for Nampa, take a right after exiting the freeway. You will go through 1 light then over an overpass, then another light and another, then veer to the left and stay on that road until you come to 12th Avenue. Then you will take a right and stay on that road until you come to Lake Lowell on the corner will be Nampa High School and you take a right and last building before the stadium is the gym.
- There will be donuts and drinks in the gym before the assembly starts.
- Columbia High School in Nampa will be hosting a luncheon for veterans from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. For more info, call the school office at 498-0571.
-Boy Scout troops 81 and 78 are having a flag retirement ceremony in honor of all veterans. It will be held on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at 5645 S. Maple Grove Road (LDS church south of Amity Road).
- For any questions contact Randy Phillips 362-1410
- West Valley Medical Center will recognize military heroes at flag ceremony. Caldwell VFW members will replace the flag there Nov. 11. The hospital is located at 1717 Arlington Avenue in Caldwell.
- The public is invited to honor the military heroes and veterans. The event will take place at 11 a.m. just outside the hospital's main entrance.
- West Valley Marketing Director John McGee will introduce members of the Caldwell VFW, Post No 3886, who will conduct the ceremonial replacement of the U.S. flag that currently flies in front of the hospital.
- The new flag will fly in honor of an employee or an employee's family member who either has served or still serves in the U.S. military.
- MotivePower has got together with to Bank of America and the Chocolate Factory in Boise.
- On Veterans’ Day at 3:30 p.m. at the Apple Street plant off of Federal Way, 500 plus employees will pass through the gates and tie a yellow ribbon on the fence inside the USA Stencil as they leave the plant. They will be signing cards of well wishes and dropping off their Thanksgiving donations at the same time.
- Bank of America and the Chocolate Factory will also be at the plant volunteering their time, as well as helping with the packages.
- A local business has donated enough goodies to mail 100 packages to the troops. They hope that more local businesses will follow suit and support our troops, donations can be dropped off at the 4600 Apple Street location.
