When it comes to patriotism, paint Pike County red, white and blue.

Otis Stone, American Legion Pos 70 past-commander, said the people of Pike County are, historically and traditionally, dedicated patriots.

Stone sited the annual Veterans Day programs that are sponsored locally as a basis for his confidence in the county’s patriotism.

“We have five community-wide Veterans Day programs in the local area and the schools also have programs honoring our veterans,” Stone said. “To me, that’s patriotism.”

Stone said Veterans Day falls on November 11, which is the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended the hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918.

“The armistice was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month,” Stone said. “That’s why most Veterans Day programs are held at 11 a.m. on November 11.”

With November 11 falling on Saturday this year, the first Veterans Day program will be the Veterans Day Breakfast hosted by the Colley Senior Complex in Troy on Friday, November 10.

“This year we are moving our annual Veterans Day Breakfast to the Troy Recreation Center in order to have a larger space to honor our veterans,” said Catherine Jordan, senior center director. “Registration will begin at 7 a.m. Friday with breakfast at 8 a.m. We encourage the veterans and their spouses to come early to enjoy a time of fellowship before the program begins.”

Sgt. Major Anthony Johnson, JROTC instructor at Charles Henderson High School, will the featured speaker for the breakfast event.

Boy Scout Troop 41 in Troy will present the Colors and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Shelia Jackson will sing the National Anthem and a selection of other patriotic songs.

Jordan said Trey Walden, a Troy University senior, will offer the attending veterans the opportunity to participate in his senior research project, which involves Post Traumatic Stress Disorder among veterans.

On Saturday, American Legion Post 70 in Troy will host the annual Veterans Day Program at 11 a.m. at Bicentennial Park in Troy.

The program will include guest speakers, special music and remarks by government officials.

“The featured speaker for our 2017 Veterans Day program will be Blake Diamond, who works with the United States Department of Homeland Security in Montgomery,” Stone said. “He served 11 years in the Army National Guard in Alabama and California. He was twice activated for Operation Desert Storm as a military police officer and was deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.”

Diamond is a graduate of Troy University and served 21 years in federal law enforcement. He started his federal law enforcement career n 1996 as a U.S. Border Patrol Agent in San Diego and transferred to the Immigration & Naturalization Service as a special agent in Memphis. Diamond transferred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

The ceremony will conclude with the placing of a Memorial Wreath at the Wall of Honor for deceased veterans of Pike County. Following the memorial service, everyone is invited to have lunch at the American Legion Post 70, at 212 East Walnut Street in downtown Troy.

Brundidge VFW Post 7055 will host three Veterans Day programs on Saturday.

At 9 a.m. a program will be held at the Veterans Memorial on Veterans Boulevard in Brundidge.

In conjunction with American Legion Post 145, Post 7055 will host a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Building on 231 south of Brundidge.

VFW Post will then host at a Veterans Day Program at 11 a.m. at Elam Baptist Church Cemetery on Danny Road in Elamville. Ben Bowden, will be the guest speaker. A covered dish lunch will follow.

The Pike County community is invited and encouraged to honor America’s veterans at any and all of the Veterans Day services.