Kansas National Guard Soldiers will be busy on, and in the days leading up to, Veterans Day.

Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, November 11 was “dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day.’” As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress — at the urging of the veterans service organizations — amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

The Kansas National Guard will be supporting numerous celebrations across the state.
Events scheduled for Nov. 7

Iola –Brig. Gen. Robert Windham, assistant adjutant general-Army and commander of the Kansas Army National Guard, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day ceremony at the Iola Veterans Memorial Wall, Iola Square, US Highway 54/Main Street. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, and the Forward Support Company, 891st Engineer Battalion, Iola, will be participating in the Iola Veterans Day Parade carrying a giant United States flag and driving military vehicles. The parade will be held at the Iola Square and will start at 12 p.m.

Ottawa – Soldiers from the 250th Forward Support Company will participate in the Franklin County/Ottawa Veterans Day parade, which begins at 10:45 a.m. The soldiers will be providing the color guard and driving two vehicles in the parade.

Topeka – Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general, and Command Chief Master Sgt. James Brown, Kansas National Guard command senior enlisted leader, will serve as the grand marshals for the Topeka Veterans Day parade on Kansas Avenue. Members of 69th Troop Command, 635th Regional Support Group, 35th Military Police Company, 190th Air Refueling Wing and Topeka Eagle Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol, will also be participating in the parade which begins at 11 a.m. The 73rd Civil Support Team will provide support to the local authorities.

Wichita – Soldiers from the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry will be participating in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown Wichita. The parade starts at 11 a.m. The soldiers will be driving a Bradley Fighting Vehicle and a Humvee in the parade.
Events scheduled for Nov. 8

Topeka – Lt. Col. Erich Campbell, Senior Army Advisor for the Kansas National Guard, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day ceremony at the South Knollwood Baptist Church, Main Auditorium, 1813 SW 29th St. Services begin at 10:45 a.m.
Events scheduled for Nov. 10

Hiawatha – American Legion Post 66 will be providing the Brown County Veterans Day dinner at the Hiawatha National Guard Armory, 108 N. 1st St. Retired Col. William Vonderschmidt will be the master of ceremonies. Retired Chaplain (Col.) Larry Parrish will provide the blessing. Lt. Col. Paul Schneider, battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, will be the host. Retired Brig. Gen. Alex Duckworth, former deputy commander of the 35th Infantry Division, Kansas National Guard, will be the guest speaker. Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, will provide the color guard during the dinner, which begins at 6 p.m.

McLouth – Col. Judith Martin, deputy chief of staff for personnel, Kansas Army National Guard, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day ceremony held at the McLouth High School, 217 Summit St. The ceremony begins at 9:15 a.m.

Wichita – Airmen from the Honor Guard and the 134th Air Control Squadron, 184th Intelligence Wing, will participate in a Veterans Day celebration at Woodland Elementary School, 1705 N. Salina St. The airmen will provide a color guard and have military equipment on display. Equipment will be on display from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include a light medium tactical vehicle and a Humvee.

Wichita – Soldiers from the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry will have a Bradley Fighting Vehicle on display as part of a Veterans Day celebration at the Park West Retirement Community, 505 N. Maize Rd. Equipment will be on display from 1 to 3 p.m.

Wichita – Col. Vonda Wigal, 184th Medical Group commander, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be the guest speaker for the Sedgwick County RSVP Volunteer Recognition. The ceremony will be held at the Wichita VA Auditorium, 5500 E Kellogg Ave., and begins at 1 p.m.
Events scheduled for Nov. 11

Bellville – Sgt. Laura Wilber, food operations noncommissioned officer, 995th Support Maintenance Company, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day ceremony held at the Republic County Courthouse, 1815 M Street. The 995th Support Maintenance Company and Recruiting and Retention Battalion will be providing the color guard for the parade. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. and the parade begins at 2 p.m.

Burlingame – Lt. Col. Shy Warner and retired Col. Bob Bloomquist will be the guest speakers for a Veterans Day ceremony held at Burlingame High School, 100 Bloomquist Dr. #A. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

Clifton – Capt. Travis Zeigler, operations officer for the 997th Brigade Support Battalion, Hays, will be the guest speaker for the Clifton Veterans Day Parade/Ceremonies hosted by the American Legion. Zeigler will be the guest speaker at the ceremony immediately following the parade. The parade is on Main Street and begins at 2 p.m.

Conway Springs – Senior Master Sgt. Janet Probst, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at St. Joseph Catholic School, 218 N 5th St. Airman 1st Class Timothy Blake will also be participating in the ceremony. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m.

Douglass – Tech. Sgt. Dan Stiner and Senior Airman Brian Stiner, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be participating in a Veterans Day event at Douglass Public School, 605 E. 3rd St. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m.

El Dorado – Capt. Keith Marshall, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at El Dorado High School, 401 McCollum Rd. The event begins at 11 a.m. Col. Joseph Jabara, vice commander, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be in attendance.

Emporia – Maj. Rob Sands, executive officer, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry, will be the guest speaker at the Emporia Veterans Day Celebration being held at the Emporia All Veterans Memorial, 75 Sodens Road. The events begins at 11 a.m.

Everest – Lt. Col. Erich Campbell, Senior Army Advisor for the Kansas National Guard, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day ceremony at Everest Middle School, 221 South 7th. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

Hoisington – Sgt. 1st Class Casey Flinn, Regional Training Site Maintenance, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day ceremony at the Hoisington High School, 218 E. 7th St. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m.

Holton – Soldiers from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, Holton, will participate in the Veterans Day parade, driving a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. At 6 p.m., VFW Post 1367 will host the Jackson County Veterans Day Dinner at the Holton Armory, 1003 W 4th St.

Leavenworth – Maj. Gen. Michael Navrkal, commander of the 35th Infantry Division, will participate in the Leavenworth Veterans Day parade. Soldiers from the 35th Infantry Division will be driving an up-armored Humvee and a light medium tactical vehicle in the parade. The parade begins at 10:30 a.m.

Lenexa – Brig. Gen. Vic Braden, deputy commanding general, Combined Arms Center-Army National Guard, Fort Leavenworth, will be the guest speaker at the 29th annual Johnson County Veterans Day Observance being held at the Lenexa National Guard Armory, 18200 W. 87th St. Parkway. Senator Jerry Moran will also be speaking at the ceremony. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m.

LeRoy – Maj. Angela Gray, plans and operations officer, Joint Forces Headquarters Kansas-Land Component, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day ceremony at Southern Coffey County High School, 1010 N. Main St. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

Manhattan – Soldiers from the 130th Field Artillery Brigade and the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery will participate with a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System in the Flint Hills Veterans Day Parade, Poyntz Avenue. The parade begins 9:30 a.m.

Mulvane – Project 22 (www.facebook.com/Project22vets) will be shown at the Mulvane High School, 1900 N Rock Rd. Tech. Sgt. Chris Hines, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be facilitating the discussion after the movie showings. The movie will be shown at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Newton – Retired Col. Timothy Marlar will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at the American Legion Post #2, 400 Spencer. The ceremony begins at 6 p.m.

Pratt – Capt. Bryan Woods, commander of the Headquarters Support Company, 997th Brigade Support Battalion, Hays, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day event at the Pratt Municipal Airport B29 All Veterans Memorial, 40110 Runway Blvd. Soldiers from the 1161st Forward Support Company will provide the Color Guard for the ceremony. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

Salina – Col. Dave Johnson, chief of staff, 35th Infantry Division, will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day Ceremony at Sunset Park, 700 West Sunset Drive. Lt. Col. Richard Fisher, executive officer of the Great Plains Joint Training Center and garrison commander of the Kansas Army National Guard Training Center, will be the master of ceremonies. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m.

Salina – Master Sgt. John Duerr, chief instructor, Regional Training Site Maintenance, will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at Coronado Elementary School, 2725 Ray Avenue. The ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m.

Shawnee – Brig. Gen. Jay Selanders, assistant adjutant general-Air and commander of the Air National Guard, will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day Ceremony at the Shawnee Civic Centre, Johnson Drive and Pflumm. The ceremony begins at 4 p.m. This event is being sponsored city of Shawnee, VFW Post 10552, American Legion #327, Civil Air Patrol – Kansas City Composite Squadron #034 and the Sons of the American Revolution – Monticello Chapter.

Topeka – 1st Sgt. Jared Worley, state resiliency program manager, will be the guest speaker for a Veterans Day ceremony at the 28th annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Washburn University Vietnam Memorial Site, southeast corner of Morgan Hall. Topeka area recruiters from the Recruiting and Retention Battalion are presenting the flag show after the ceremony. The ceremony begins at 11:45 a.m.

Topeka – Gov. Sam Brownback and Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general, will be the guest speakers at a Veterans Day ceremony at the Great Overland Station, 701 N. Kansas Ave. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Potter will give the invocation and benediction for the ceremony. The program begins at 2 p.m.

Topeka – Maj. Joe Blubaugh, wing executive officer, 190th Air Refueling Wing, will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at McCrite Plaza, 1610 SW 37th St. The ceremony begins at 12 p.m.

Topeka – Maj. Joe Blubaugh, wing executive officer, 190th Air Refueling Wing, will be the guest speaker at a Veterans Day ceremony at Washburn Rural High School, 5900 SW 61st St. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

Wellington – Master Sgt. Brandon Lambert, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be participating in a Veterans Day Mass at Wellington Christian Academy, 205 N. Hoover Rd. The event begins at 10 a.m.

Wichita – Lt. Col. Jess Sojka, commander, 184th Logistics Readiness Squadron, 184th Intelligence Wing, will be participating in a Veterans Day Mass at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church/School, 124 N. Roosevelt. The Mass begins at 8 a.m.

Wichita – The Honor Guard from the 184th Intelligence Wing will be participating in a Veterans Day ceremony at Via Christie St. Francis Hospital, 929 N. St. Francis. The ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.

Wichita – The Honor Guard from the 184th Intelligence Wing will be participating in a Veterans Day ceremony at West River Plaza, 2622 West Central Ave. The ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m.

Wichita – The Honor Guard from the 184th Intelligence Wing will be presenting the colors at the Wichita Thunder hockey game being held at Intrust Bank Arena, 500 E. Waterman St. The ceremony begins at 7:05 p.m.

Winchester – Lt. Col. Erich Campbell, Senior Army Advisor for the Kansas National Guard, will participate in a Veterans Day ceremony at Jefferson County North High School, 302 5th Street. The ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m.

Raymore, Missouri – Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Smith, command chief warrant officer, Kansas Army National Guard, will be the guest speaker at the Veterans Day ceremony at the Raymore Independent Living Retirement Home, 1500 W. Foxwood Dr. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.
Events scheduled for Nov. 12

Overland Park – The 169th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion and the 35th Infantry Division will be participating in the Sprint Military Appreciation Day held at Sprint Campus Paige Field, 5750 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park. The units will be displaying an up-armored Humvee, light medium tactical vehicle, ambulance and a palletized loading system from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Events scheduled for Nov. 14

Hays – The 997th Brigade Support Battalion will provide a vehicle static display for the Fort Hays State Military Appreciation football game. The Recruiting and Retention Battalion will also have the Orange County Army National Guard chopper on display. The game kicks off at 2 p.m.

South Hutchinson – Senior Master Sgt. Melanie Graber, Master Sgt. Brandon Lambert, Airman 1st Class Megan Lambert, Master Sgt. Brian Clingan, Staff Sgt. Joseph Kroulik, Master Sgt. Chris Ontiveros, Master Sgt. Randall Hodson and Paula Hodson, 184th Intelligence Wing members, will be participating in the Veterans Memorial 5K Trail Run. The 5K begins at 9:30 a.m.

Kansas City, Missouri – Col. Thomas Foster, commander of the 287th Sustainment Brigade, will be the master of ceremonies at a Veterans Day celebration at the Colonial Presbyterian Church, 9500 Wornall Rd. The celebration is from 7:30 to 11 a.m.

Wichita – Chaplain (Lt. Col.) John Potter, deputy command chaplain, Kansas National Guard, will be participating in a Veterans Remembrance Service at the Wichita VA Hospital, 5500 E. Kellogg Ave. Services will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.