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The 2020 Veterans Day Program for Pike County will be held, as tradition dictates, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month at Bicentennial Park in Troy.

The Veterans Day Program is hosted annually by American Legion Post 70 in Troy.

Bob McLendon, Post commander, said November 11 is the day of the signing of the armistice that ended the World War I hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. So, it is the day designated to honor America’s veterans.

“Veterans Day is the day set aside to honor the veterans of all American wars,” McLendon said. “And, we will honor all our Pike County veterans on Wednesday, Veterans Day.

“However, we are doing something that we would not normally do on Veterans Day. Because of the restrictions of COVID-19, we were not able to host a Memorial Day Service in May. It is important that we recognize and honor those whose lives were lost in battle. So, at the Veterans Day Service on Wednesday, we will call the names of all those who died in combat or while performing duties in a combat zone.”

McLendon said the Veterans Day Service will feature the Posting of Colors by the Charles Henderson High School JROTC and the National Anthem and other special music by Brooklyn Moran.

The Veterans Day program will be presented by members of American Legion Post 70.

McLendon said because the Veterans Day SAlso ervice will be held outdoors, there is plenty of room for social distancing.

“We encourage the wearing of masks as extra precaution,” he said.

“We hope to have a large gathering as we come to honor the many men and women who have served our country so admirably and those who continue to do so. We encourage everyone to show their appreciation to our veterans by simply showing up.”

Also as part of the local events, Reunion Troy is pleased to present an encore viewing of “Voices of our Veterans” on Wednesday, November 11, at 9 am on Troy CableVision TC 2.

The video features 13 Pike County veterans telling their stories of their time served in the United States military branches.

The documentary features a veteran who was selected to be an MP because of his height and found himself guarding war criminals at the trial at Nuremberg. You will also hear from a veteran who was days from going home when he found himself heading to South Korea as the Korean Conflict began. And you will meet a veteran who assigned vehicles to young army personnel, never knowing if they would return from their assignment.

Please tune in for “Voices of our Veterans” Wednesday morning.