This coming weekend is rich in opportunities to honor and thank the military veterans who have served and sacrificed to protect our freedoms. Veterans Day is Nov. 11.

On Saturday, Nov. 9, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5290 in Conyers will host a special Veterans Day Symposium. The symposium is 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the post, located at 1449 VFW Drive. Cost to attend is $5 per adult and $10 per family.  Hot dogs, soda and slices of homemade cakes will be available for $1 each. Proceeds will go toward the Wounded Warrior Program and VFW building repairs.

Panel speakers include WWII veteran Jack Simpson, Herb Smith, General Rich McPhee, Newborn Mayor Roger Sheridan, Vietnam veteran and Walk of Heroes Chairman Tommy Clack, WWII veteran Bud Sosebee, Peter Elizabeth Wolf, Mike Morris and Pete Mecca.

Publisher Pat Cavanaugh will be the program’s moderator.

On Monday, Nov. 11, the public is invited to two Veterans Day ceremonies. 

The program at the Walk of Heroes Veterans Memorial at Black Shoals Park, located at 3001 Black Shoals Road, starts at 6 p.m. The event includes a keynote speaker, bag piper, Missing Man Table ceremony and candlelight Ceremony. Military equipment, vehicles, and soldiers will be on display for the public at 5 p.m. At 5:15 p.m., Belmont Baptist Church choir will give a patriotic concert.

Organizers said the event will be a chance to enjoy, interact and participate in this year’s tribute to honor our veterans, military and their families. In the event of rain or extreme cold, the event will be held at 1400 Parker Road. For more information, go to www.walkofheroes.org or call 770-786-2302. 

The American Legion, Post 77 will hold a ceremony at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the post, located at 674 Legion Road. 

Post Commander Art Darr said, “What we now call ‘Veterans Day’ began as ‘Armistice Day.’ It is historically significant that this day continue to be observed on the month, day and hour that the guns fell silent in World War I at 11 a.m., Nov. 11, 1918. While the day has strong historical roots, current events continue to add meaning to the day.”

“Today, thousands of Americans are serving in uniform. They sacrifice in the war on terror and in hundreds of locations around the globe so we may remain free. They, too, are veterans,” Darr said.

Right after the Legion’s ceremony, the Last Man Standing group of WWII Veterans will meet after lunch at the Legion. The Last Man’s group of WWII Veterans first organized in 2002 with a pact that the last man standing would be able to break open a bottle of cognac enclosed in a case at the American Legion Post 77. For more information, contact chairman Bobby Davis at 770-388-9798.