DesotoExplorer.com / County Veterans' Day observance Friday

Archive for Thursday, November 8, 2007

November 8, 2007

Special to the Explorer

The 21st annual Veterans Day Observance in Johnson County is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, 119th Street and Lowell Avenue, Overland Park.

The public event is being sponsored by Johnson County Government in partnership with the Korean War Memorial Association.

Featured speaker will be Lt. Col. Hadley Turner, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and a 26-year military career soldier with the United States Army.

Annabeth Surbaugh, chairman of the Johnson County Commission, also will speak.

Jack Krumme, chairman of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Committee, will serve as the master of ceremonies.

The 2007 ceremony will feature patriotic music performed by the Blue Valley North High School Band under the direction of Marion Roberts.

The event also will feature:

Presentation of colors by the Johnson County Sheriff's Honor Guard;
Placement of memorial wreaths by the speakers and representatives from local veterans organizations from the cities of Overland Park, Olathe and Shawnee;
Exhibit of historic military vehicles by the Military Vehicle Preservation Association, Kansas City "Hell on Wheels" Chapter; and,
Traditional playing of "Taps" and the firing of a rifle salute.

Parking will be available at the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center, south of the memorial, and at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, east of the memorial.

In case of inclement weather, the Veterans Day ceremony will be moved to the gymnasium of the Tomahawk Ridge Community Center. The facility still is officially closed to the public for remodeling, but will be made available by the city of Overland Park, if needed, for the ceremony.

The offices of Johnson County Government will be closed Monday in observance of Veterans Day.