By Pat Murdock
San Marcos — American veterans – past and present – will be honored during a series of Veterans Day observance events scheduled Nov. 6 – 11 in San Marcos.
Veterans Day is a national holiday observed annually in the United States in honor of all those, living and dead, who served with the U.S. armed forces. It is subtly different from Memorial Day, which pays tribute to those who died in wartime. Veterans Day pays tribute to all those who have served their country, in both times of peace and war.
Three-Day Cinematic Tribute
The city will hold a three-day, free cinematic film tribute under the San Marcos Parks and Recreation Department’s popular Movies in the Park series at 7 p.m. each evening at San Marcos Plaza Park Nov. 6 – 8. The World War I film “Flyboys” will be shown Tuesday night, Nov. 6. The World War II movie “Midway” will be featured Wednesday, Nov. 7. The documentary about Vietnam, “In the Shadow of the Blade,” will be featured on Thursday, Nov. 8, and will include the landing of an authentic Vietnam War era Huey Helicopter. The movies will be shown free of charge. Concessions will be available.
Texas State University Events
Texas State University-San Marcos will offer two back-to-back events on Thursday, Nov. 8, both of which are open to the public. The annual Veterans Day ceremony on the Quad by the Stallions is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. and will feature posting of the colors and several very brief speakers, including the university President Denise M. Trauth, the Associated Student Government president and state and national officials. A Bobcat band ensemble will present a patriotic musical tribute and there will be a fly over. At 11:30 a.m., a ceremony heralding the dedication of a World War I Memorial in the Texas State Veterans Memorial Garden, will feature brief remarks by the ASG president, Dr. Trauth, a representative of the History Club and Distinguished Alumnus Chris Luna.
SMCISD Campus Programs
At least three SMCISD schools will have programs on Friday, Nov. 9. Local veterans are invited to attend back-to-back assemblies at Hernandez Intermediate School at 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. The results of Veterans Day poster and poetry contests will be announced at these assemblies for fifth and sixth graders respectively. The assemblies will honor family members of students and staff. A reception will follow in the Hernandez library at 10:30 a.m. to conclude the day. On Nov. 10, Hernandez will have a float in the annual Veterans Day Parade. The winning posters and poetry will be exhibited in the LBJ Museum of San Marcos, located on the courthouse square.
At Goodnight Junior High School, local veterans are invited to attend a breakfast at 7:45 a.m. in the Goodnight Library, to be followed by an assembly at 8:30 in the school’s gymnasium. Veterans planning to attend are asked to RSVP by calling 512-393-6550.
Crockett Elementary will have a special assembly at 2 p.m. on Nov. 9 in the Crockett Cafeteria. The Junior Air Force ROTC will perform.
Special Downtown Parade
The City of San Marcos has pulled out all the stops to encourage participation in the annual Veterans Day Parade on Saturday, Nov. 10. The deadline for parade entries in over. For more information, call 512-393-8400.
“Honoring Veterans – Past and Present” will be the theme of the parade and a downtown celebration on Nov. 10. The parade time is 10 a.m.
Activities on the Hays County courthouse lawn will begin at 8:30 a.m. with free biscuits and gravy with sausage, courtesy of Café on the Square, Ben E. Keith, the Main Street program and the City of San Marcos. Service will continue until the food is gone.
At 9 a.m., the Kiwanis Club of San Marcos is inviting local children to join the “Kids Bicycle Brigade.” The Kiwanis Club will help youngsters decorate their bikes. They can watch the parade and then will join it. Children ages five and older are invited to bring their bikes and helmets to participate in the brigade. Bicycles, with and without training wheels, and scooters are welcome.
Flyover and Sentmental Journey
A vintage aircraft flyover by the Centex Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is scheduled during the parade.
Later that evening, the Centex Wing will host its annual “Hangar Dance,” dinner and more at the Centex Wing hangar at the San Marcos Municipal Airport. Music will be provided by the Sentimental journey Orchestra. and dinner will be catered by Fuschak’s of San Marcos. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. For more information, contact Col. Ray Ender at 512-396-0765.
VFW Veterans Day Dinner
On Sunday, Nov. 11, the Maurice T. Suttles VFW Post will host its annual veterans day dinner at the VFW Hall. Dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free to veterans and $6 each for others. Tickets can be purchased in advance from VFW members or at the Parks and Recreation Department. The American Legion Hall will be open for games and light refreshments from 2 to 6 p.m.
History of Veterans Day
In 1968 Congress changed the date of the holiday to the fourth Monday in October to give Americans a three-day weekend. But because of the significance of Nov. 11 to many people, the traditional date was restored by law in 1978.
Originally called “Armistice Day,” Veterans Day commemorated the end of World War I on November 11, 1918 – the fighting ended at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month.
In 1919, on the first anniversary of the World War I armistice, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation expressing pride in the heroism of those who had died during the war. Business stopped for two minutes starting at 11 a.m. and it later became customary to observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.
Many states made Armistice Day a state holiday in the 1920s and 1930s, and, in 1938, the Congress of the United States declared it a federal holiday. In 1954, the name of the holiday was changed from Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor those who had served in World War II (1939-1945) and the Korean War (1950-1953). Today, it honors all veterans, as well as active duty military personnel.
