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99th Annual Veterans Day Ceremony
Name: 99th Annual Veterans Day CeremonyDate: November 11, 2020Time: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM CST
Event Description:Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240 will host its annual Veterans Day program beginning at 10:30AM, Wednesday, November 11, at the Erath County Courthouse in downtown Stephenville.
The program will be conducted following CDC pandemic safety guidelines for public gatherings. Attendees are requested to wear masks and avoid person to person contact. Masks, hand sanitizer and hand wipes will be available.
The Veterans Day Keynote speaker will be the Honorable Mayor of Stephenville, Doug Svien, who was elected in 2018 following seven years of service as a Stephenville City Councilman. He is currently Chief Executive Officer of The Rock House Company where he has been employed for the past 29 years. The son of Military parents, Doug brings to the podium the perspective of a Military Brat, a title known in U.S Military culture as a term of endearment and respect.
Early arrivals will be greeted with hot coffee provided by Beans and Franks and donuts served by Interbank representative Janette Goodman and Erath County United Way volunteers Lisa Scroggins, David Perez (& son Joel) of JDI Construction, and Michael Prather of Totelcom Network.
Current Post 240 Commander, Greg Thompson, will be the Master of Ceremony and Tarleton Corp of Cadets Color Guard and Rifle team will present the colors and rifle salute followed by Post 240 Honor Guard member and bugler, Jimmy Finney, presenting Taps. Unit 240 Auxiliary President, Martha Fredrickson will Join Keynote speaker in placing a wreath at the Erath County Veterans Memorial. Post 240 Chaplain, Matt Hallgarth will deliver the invocation.
During his closing remarks, Master of Ceremony will conduct a drawing and announce the winner of Post 240’s annual raffle. A few remaining raffle tickets will be on sale prior to event providing attendees an opportunity to support Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240 by purchasing a $10 raffle ticket, or eleven tickets for $100. The winning ticket will be the owner of an AR15 rifle.
Ceremony
Master of Ceremonies Greg Thompson, Commander Post 240
Post the Colors TSU Corp of Cadet Color Guard
Invocation Matt Hallgarth, Post 240 Chaplain
Pledge of Allegiance In unison
Welcome and Introduction Master of Ceremony of Guests
Introduction of Speaker Master of Ceremony
Guest Speaker Doug Svien, The Honorable Mayor of Stephenville
Laying of the wreath Guest Speaker & Martha Fredrickson, President Auxiliary Unit 240
Rifle Salute TSU Corp of Cadet Color Guard
Taps Jimmy Finney, Turnbow-Higgs Post 240
Retire the Colors TSU Corp of Cadet Color Guard
History
First known as Armistice Day, President Woodrow Wilson set aside the day of November 11th (the first anniversary of the signing of the armistice ending WWI) to recognize and thank our American soldiers for their service.
Congress amended this act on June 1, 1954, replacing "Armistice" with "Veterans," and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, with the German signing of the Armistice.
Traditionally, Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240 has scheduled its Veterans Day ceremony to coincide with the signing of the WWI Armistice on the 11th Hour, of the 11th Day, of the 11th Month in 1918.
In years when the 11th Day falls on a Sunday, the ceremony is scheduled on another day of the week to avoid conflict with area church services.
Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240, chartered in 1920, has sponsored a Veterans Day ceremony every year since 1921.
