The founding city of Veterans Day is now rolling out the red carpet to current and past military service personnel over the next week-plus.
The core schedule for Emporia’s All Veterans Tribute is now underway. Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Susan Rathke says this is the 65th annual celebration of Veterans Day in Emporia and the 16th All Veterans Tribute. She says the activity list continues to expand over time.
Saturday’s schedule is busy, with the Quilts of Gratitude presentation at 11 am at the American Legion Post No. 5. Organizer Rosetta Fields says it will be an emotional morning.
In addition:
*Emporia State University has a flag ceremony at 10:30 am at Plumb Hall
*The All Veterans Luncheon is at noon at the Sauder Alumni Center
*The Remembering Vietnam panel discussion is at 1 pm at the Emporia Public Library
*Emporia State football is having its Veterans Recognition and Senior Day with kickoff at 2 pm at Welch Stadium. Coverage begins at 1 pm on Mix 104.9 FM, the KVOE.com desktop player and the Mix 104.9 FM mobile app.
*The Veterans Cemetery Tour is at 2 pm at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery.
*The Pure Prairie League and Atlanta Rhythm Section concert begins at 7 pm at the Granada Theatre.
Sunday’s schedule is jam-packed, even though there are only two official events.
Freedom Fest wlll pack both Soden’s Grove and the Sunday schedule by itself, with a 5K run-walk, bike rides, disc golf tournament and Spur Challenge. Organizer Jessica Buchholz encouraged the community to stop by and enjoy the atmosphere.
At 2 pm, Emporia Middle School will host the annual Student Essay and Poster Contest.
Many more events are planned through Nov. 10, which will feature the traditional Veterans Day events like the parade, memorial service, banner walk and ham and bean feed. The second annual All Veterans Honor Crawl is also coming Nov. 10, and organizer Michael White says this could get younger veterans involved in local Veterans Day activities.
All Veterans Tribute schedule
Nov. 2: Veterans Artist Exhibit reception, 4-6 pm, Emporia Arts Center
Nov. 3: ESU flag celebration, 10:30 am, Plumb Hall
Quilts of Gratitude, 11 am, American Legion Post No. 5
All Veterans Luncheon, Noon, ESU Sauder Alumni Center
Remembering Vietnam panel discussion, 1 pm, Emporia Public Library
ESU football Veterans Recognition and Senior Day, 2 pm, Welch Stadium
Veterans Cemetery Tour, 2 pm, Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery
Pure Prairie League and Atlanta Rhythm Section concert, 7 pm, Granada Theatre
Nov. 4: Freedom Fest, 8 am, Sodens Grove
Student Poster and Essay Contest, 2 pm, Emporia Middle School
Nov. 7: Emporia Company “L” in World War I, 7 pm, ESU Sauder Alumni Center
Nov. 8: Free Veterans Breakfast, 8 am, Emporia Senior Center
Emporia Company “L” in World War I, 3 pm, ESU William Allen White Library commons
All Veterans Tribute Military Roundtable, 7 pm, ESU Memorial Union Preston Family Room
Nov. 9: All Veterans Tribute Show, 7 pm, Albert Taylor Hall
Nov. 10: Free Veterans Breakfast, 7 am, Presbyterian Manor
Banner Walk, all day, Commercial Street
Parade, 9:30 am, Commercial Street
Memorial Service, 11 am, All Veterans Memorial
Ham and Bean Feed, Noon, American Legion Post No. 5 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1980
All Veterans Honor Crawl, 6:30 pm
