Veterans Day
Veterans Day in a military community is big deal. Although the parade is over (see photos at springsmilitarylife.com), there are plenty of activities on Friday.
Although most government offices and many school districts are closed on Friday, schools that stay open have some special events planned so students can learn about the day that honors veterans.
In Falcon School District 49, for example, the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard will visit Stetson Elementary School for a special pledge of allegiance ceremony. Also, two middle schools, Horizon and Skyview, will honor veterans in special assemblies. For details, visit www.d49.org.Stories on stage
There also are a couple of performances featuring veterans’ stories this weekend:
• “Warrior Stories” will be told at 7 p.m. Friday at Marmalade at Smokebrush, 219 W. Colorado Ave., Ste. 210. Admission is $5. For more information, smokebrush.org or 444-1012.
• “Wisdom Within These Walls – Wisdom in Uniform” will feature stories of area veterans in a readers theater production at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, 304 Colorado 105, Palmer Lake. Admission is $10-$15. For information, go to thewisdomwithinthesewalls.com or call 481-0475.
Vets Day ceremonies
Here are some ceremonies and other events planned for Friday:
• Annual Veterans Day/Remembrance Day Ceremony: Lt. Gen. Thomas J. Lawson, deputy commander of NORAD, will speak at the 11 a.m. event at The Retired Enlisted Association, 834 Emory Circle. Steller Brass of the Air Force Academy Band and the Fort Carson Color Guard also will participate.
• Fountain’s annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. at Mayor’s (Caboose) Park, US Highway 85 and Iris Drive.
• American Legion Post 5 will dedicate a new flag pole at 2 p.m. at the post, 15 E. Platte Ave. Claim your freebie!
And for you veterans and service members, there’s a whole host of discounts and freebies awaiting you on Friday.
All National Parks, including Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, will have free admission for all in honor of veterans. The Monument, 35 miles west of Colorado Springs on U.S. Highway 24, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
A hike there might be a good way to work off all the free and discounted food available to veterans and active duty personnel on Friday. Free Slurpees, doughnuts and meals, plenty of buy one, get one free offers await. For a list of what’s being offered, go to springsmilitarylife.com. Veterans day deals are featured at the top of the page.
Air Force kicker Parker Herrington celebrates after kicking the game-winning extra point during overtime of an NCAA college football game against Navy, Saturday, Oct 1, 2011, in Annapolis, Md. Air Force won 35-34 in overtime. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez) Photo by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS