Veterans Day events Monday

Monday is Veterans Day, and a variety of events is scheduled to honor area veterans.
As usual, the centerpiece of Veterans Day will be the annual Custer School District ceremony that will take place at 2 p.m. at the Armory.
The ceremony will start with a welcome from Custer Jr./Sr. High School principal Tobey Cass and Custer High School student body president Brook Bennett.
Following the presentation of colors, the National Anthem will be performed by the Custer High School choir. That will be followed the the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation.
The opening address will be given by student body secretary Makenna Allen, followed by the POW/MIA empty chair ceremony.
Elementary students will sing a pair of songs before Holly Nielsen reads “Take A Moment to Thank a Veteran.” That will be followed by a performance by the Custer Jr./Sr. High School choir.
Retired Col. Deb Hanagan will be the guest speaker at the event. Follwing her talk, the Custer Jr./Sr. High School band will perform “Marches of the Armed Forces,” and veterans will stand and be recognized during the playing of the song that represents their branch of service.
Following that, a roll call recognition of veterans will be read, and a video presentation of deceased veterans will be played.
The will be followed by the playing of Taps by Dylan Frank and Hunter Woodward. After the benedicition, the colors will be retired by the Custer Veterans Honor Guard and Bennett and Allen will deliver the closing.
After the ceremony, veterans can head to the concession area of the Armory for the annual canteen, held jointly by the Custer County Republicans and Democrats. This allows the veterans a time to enjoy each others company and socialize.
Before the ceremony at the Armory, the American Legion flag retirement ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. A potluck lunch will follow at the Custer VFW.
In Hermosa, Hermosa American Legion Post 303 will serve dinner at the post home, consisting of chili (spicy and plain), chicken noodle soup and gluten-free chicken with rice soup from 5-7 p.m.
At Elk Mountain School the program is Tuesday, Nov. 12, starting at 12:30 p.m. with lunch and the program to start at 1:30 p.m.
“We are very excited to share the passion of our students and their families with the veterans this year,” said Dani Stearns of the school. “Our theme is ‘We the People’ with an emphasis on the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Each family created a project that will be shared during the program, Stearns said, and area veterans will be in attendance.