Local service groups and school districts are putting a creative spin on traditional Veterans Day events this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic and will take the opportunity to honor and express appreciation to local military personnel for their dedicated service in upcoming socially-distanced observances and drive-up events during the next week.
The traditional Logan County Veterans Day service will be hosted at the traditional time at 11:11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, outdoors in front of the flagpole at the Logan County Courthouse, American Legion Harold Kerr Post 173 Commander Tim Shaw said Friday.
The Logan County Honor Guard will participate in the ceremony. Afterward, attendees are invited to come inside the Holland Theatre for guest speaker Dr. Richard Smith, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center superintendent, who is a U.S. Air Force veteran, accompanied also by speaker Bellefontaine Mayor Ben Stahler.
“We usually have a slightly smaller crowd when we move to the indoor part of the ceremony, and we’re able to space out throughout the large auditorium at the theater,” Shaw said. Under COVID guidelines, the theater with 604 seats has currently has a capacity of 90 people.
Also Wednesday morning, the students and staff of Benjamin Logan Schools will honor local veterans with a drive-in breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the bus circle, an event coordinated by the Benjamin Logan High School Student Government and FCCLA members.
Vehicles are asked to enter the bus circle from County Road 26. Volunteers from the school will direct traffic to get vehicles parked, and then Student Government and FCCLA members will deliver a student-prepared breakfast and coffee to each vehicle.
The students will be wearing masks and “we kindly request that those attending the event also wear a mask,” district officials said.
Participants are invited to stay in the parking lot and listen to a radio broadcast of a Veterans Day ceremony, featuring student presentations, patriotic readings, and musical performances by the vocal jazz group, high school choir and high school band. Student leaders will read names of local of veterans as well.
For more information, contact the high school office at (937) 592-1666.
In another drive-up style event, Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. to noon, Indian Lake High School also hosts its first ever FCCLA Freedom Carhop.
Veterans and their spouses are invited to drive through the parking in the front of Indian Lake High School, just off of State Route 235.
Students will hand out gift bags of specially-prepared patriotic snacks, flags, lapel pins and more. Students will wear gloves and masks when preparing and handing out the bags.
In addition, veterans are invited to view a video presentation prepared by the FCCLA students on the Indian Lake Schools website that will be posted the same morning.
For the past decade, the ILHS Family Career and Community Leaders of America has hosted a veterans breakfast and school-wide assembly to honor the brave men and women who have served or still are serving our country in the Armed Forces.
ILHS FCCLA Adviser Betty Kimball said the students insisted on finding a way to somehow carry on this tradition, despite the pandemic.
Veterans are asked to RSVP to the drive thru by calling (937) 686-8851. Veterans may also sign up to have a gift bag delivered to their home by FCCLA members by calling the same number. Make reservations for the drive thru or delivery by Monday, Nov. 9.
Wednesday afternoon, Riverside Local Schools also hosts an outdoor Veterans Day Parade of Honor.
From 2:15 to 2:30 p.m., veterans are asked to arrive at the school, entering from the County Road 24 entrance.
High school student council members will be outside to greet veterans, deliver goody bags and direct attendees to appropriate parking spaces.
At 2:30 p.m., elementary, junior high and high school students and staff will come outside to line the sidewalks in the back of the building and beside the administrative trailer, along the other parking lot and up to the Moore Street exit.
Once the students are assembled, the Parade of Honor will begin around 2:40 p.m.
Throughout the day on Veterans Day, Bellefontaine City Schools is hosting a Field of Honor displayed at the corner of Ludlow Road and Lake Avenue.
District families were invited to honor their family and friends who are current or former service members with a flag posted at the display in their honor. Donations for Logan County Veterans to D.C. also were being accepted throughout the project.