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The member organizations of the West Georgia Veterans Council will hold their annual Veterans Day Ceremony today at 11 a.m. at the Troup County Veterans Memorial. The ceremony is expected to last 30 to 45 minutes and is open to the public.

Kevin Jefferson, a retired member of the U.S. air force and an instructor for Troup High School’s Air Force ROTC program, will deliver a message for the event. The event will also include singing, presentation of colors, recognition of veterans, and the laying of a wreath.

This event is held annually on Nov. 11 in honor of the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month when the armistice agreement occurred and ended World War One.

Chairs will not be provided at the event and attendees are asked to bring their own folding chairs if they need to be seated. As the event is on Troup County property, facial coverings and social distancing are encouraged. If feeling ill, please do not attend.

The Hogansville American Legion branch, post 152, hosts a Veteran’s Day celebration as well at Calvin Hipp Park at 11 a.m. If it rains, the event will be relocated into the Presbyterian Church across the park.

The event will feature Desert Storm veteran Maurice Marshall as the keynote speaker and Arthur Ray Torres as the 2021 Veteran of the year.It will pay tribute to all area veterans and will pay special honor to Gulf War veterans who fought in Operation Desert Storm, which launched on Feb. 24, 1991, 30 years ago.

Ethel W. Kight will hold a drive-thru parade on their campus at 10 a.m. with an escort vehicle leading the parade. Staff and students will be lined along the front lawn to cheer on local veterans.