Join us this Veterans Day, Monday, November 11th at Veterans Park off of Cox Creek Parkway at the intersection of Veteran Park Drive in Florence. Beginning at 11 a.m. a ceremony honoring our Veterans and Active Service Members will be held at the Veterans Memorial Garden within the park on Veterans Park Drive. Seating will be available for 150 people. Several dignitaries will be on hand including the Florence Mayor and other elected officials as well as many retired military personnel. Ed Cheney will be sharing his life as a Vietnam War Disabled Veteran. Four monuments will be dedicated to Veterans of War World I, War World II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. A new monument dedicated to our Veterans and Active Service Members in the War on Terrorism will also be unveiled during the ceremony.
Jim Harris and I will arrive early (around 10:30 a.m.) to reserve seating for our Brothers who want to set as a group. If you wish to set with us please let me know how many will be with you including yourself before Monday morning so we can reserve the appropriate number of chairs. Following the ceremony participates can tour the Military Museum and the Veterans Gardens. After the festivities are completed the KOP Monte Bello Lodge #10 will have its usual meeting and luncheon at the Mongolian Grill at 131 Cox Creek Parkway, starting around 1 p.m. Please come out and say thanks to our Veterans and Active Service Members for their service and sacrifices.
The meeting will occur as usual on the 2nd Monday of the month but on Veterans Day. Several of the members of our local lodge are involved in this ceremony including Vietnam War Veteran Ed Cheney who lost an arm and leg in service to our country and who will be speaking. Robert Steen who served during the Berlin Wall crisis in 1963, in the Vietnam War and in the service of our Country for many years and who will be involved by introducing the speakers and participates. In addition, Tommy and Randy Chapin, a father and son team and also members, volunteer at the Park to keep the memories of our fallen heroes alive by maintaining the Memorial Garden and Museum for the Veterans from Lauderdale County. After the ceremony, we will be moving to the Mongolian Grill at Cox Creek for our usual luncheon. The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony at Veterans Park and join us for our meeting at the Grill.