Special events recognize locals veterans

When dawn breaks on Thursday morning,

the flags will go up.

Members of Libby’s Veterans of Foreign

Wars Post No. 1548 traditionally begin Veterans Day with a trip

around town to display the Stars and Stripes. The national holiday

serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by American soldiers

who fight for freedom.

Back for the second straight year will

be a special program at Libby High School. Teachers Jeff Gruber and

Craig Rowan organized the event, which begins at 8:30 a.m. with a

reception for veterans and their families in the LHS lobby.

The program then follows from

9:10-10:15 a.m.

Although such a program can instill

patriotism in young people, Gruber said that is the not the main

idea behind the event.

“The primary reason is to express our

gratitude from the school community to our veterans,” Gruber said.

“Naturally, this is a patriotic celebration but it’s primarily to

express our gratitude.”

The high school had staged Veterans Day

celebrations in the past but Gruber said it died out a few years

back.

“We want to make it an annual event,”

Gruber said. “We want to get any veterans here and any townspeople

here … they can get to the cemetery on time.”

Gruber was referring to the Libby VFW’s

ceremony that begins at 11 a.m., at Libby City Cemetery.

The LHS program will feature three

guest speakers – Mike Cirian, Jeff Keyworth and Mark Peck.

Cirian works with the Environmental

Protection Agency in Libby and has a U.S. Naval Reserve background.

Keyworth, a Troy-area resident, served in the U.S. Army from

1970-71 during the Vietnam War. Peck is a 1997 LHS graduate who

served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years.

“Freedom is not free” serves as the

program’s theme.

The pre-program reception for veterans

and their families will feature coffee, cookies and cake served by

high school students.

In other Veterans Day-related events,

the Libby VFW’s color guard will lead a flag ceremony at the Libby

Care Center beginning at 10 a.m. Mayor Doug Roll will be among

those taking part in the event. The care center is home to 17

veterans.

On Thursday evening, the Troy VFW No.

5514 Ladies Auxiliary will host a free dinner for all veterans. The

event begins at 5 p.m., at the VFW canteen in Troy.

On Friday, Kootenai Valley Christian

School invites the community to its 14th annual Veterans Day

program at 7 p.m., at Libby Christian Church. The celebration

honors America’s veterans for their patriotism and service. The

Libby VFW will perform the opening ceremony.

In addition, veterans are invited to

the American Legion’s “Uniform Party” on Saturday beginning at 6

p.m., with cocktail hour. Dinner follows at 7 (bring a side dish to

share) with evening entertainment by Country Legends. Veterans are

encouraged to wear their uniforms.