Area Veterans Day events

Local groups will be honoring veterans and Veterans Day with upcoming events.

•On Thursday, Nov. 11, the Town of Niagara Lions and Lioness Clubs will hold the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Veterans Heights Park in the Town of Niagara.

Ceremonies begin at 11 a.m. with the placing of a memorial wreath next to the veterans monument, the raising of the flag, speakers and the playing of taps. The Western New York Corps of Cadets will provide the color guard. The Rev. Dr. Robert Peck, pastor of Bacon Memorial Presbyterian Church, will offer opening and closing prayers. Randy Chase, a student from Niagara-Wheatfield High School, will perform taps. Speakers will be Joe Rizzotto, commander of the Fredrick F. Cadille Post of the American Legion; Shirley Griffin, past member of the Lioness Club and past president of the local Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; Gene Colucci, president of the Town of Niagara Business and Professional Association; and a military representative from the Niagara Falls Air Base.

Following the ceremony, the Lioness will serve warm beverages and pastry at the St. Vincent DePaul Parish Center, 2748 Military Road, Town of Niagara. All are welcome to join the Lions in honoring the veterans.

For information, call 297-4337 and leave a message.

•In Wheatfield, The American Legion Wheatfield Post No. 1451 will conduct Veterans Day ceremonies at the Wheatfield Veterans Monument, 6860 Ward Road, at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11.

Following the ceremony, a flag retirement ceremony will take place at the Legion Post at 6525 Ward Road.

Anyone wishing to dispose of and properly retire a worn or weathered American flag may bring it to the Legion Post at any time. Following the ceremonies, chowder, hot dogs and hamburgers will be available for sale.

The general public is welcome to attend. For additional information, call 731-4712.

•The Lewiston-Porter Historical Society of the Lewiston-Porter Central School District will host its third annual Veterans Day dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 9, in the Lew-Port High School Cafeteria. The program opens at 5:30 p.m. with a ceremony by the Lew-Port Junior ROTC, followed by dinner at 6 p.m.

The event will include Lew-Port High School Principal Paul J. Casseri presenting Gerald Gibson, Vietnam veteran and a former Lew-Port student, with a high school diploma. Area officials including State Sen. George Maziarz, Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Reiter, Village of Lewiston Mayor Terry Collesano and members of the town and village boards are expected to attend.

All veterans from the Lewiston and Porter areas are invited to participate. Dinner is provided at no charge for veterans, who may bring one guest. Additional guests may attend for $5.

•Members of Lewiston VFW and American Legion CC Kinney Post 1083 will assemble Thursday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Lewiston Veterans Memorial at Academy Park for their annual Veterans Day observances. Area officials are expected and local residents are invited to attend.

•Members of American Legion CC Kinney Post 1083 will pay tribute to veterans Nov. 11 in a 2:30 p.m. ceremony and appreciation reception at the Schoellkopf Health Center in Niagara Falls. Residents are invited to stop by.

•The Niagara County Committee of the American Legion Auxiliary reports that American Legion Clute-Phillips Post No. 938 hosts a Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Monument, Park Avenue and Main Street in Middleport. Members of Boy Scout Troop No. 23 will also conduct a flag retirement ceremony

Following both, the American Legion Auxiliary Members at the Middleport Firehall will serve a free luncheon. Homemade soup and sandwiches will be served. Boys State and Girls State Citizens, sponsored by the Clute-Phillips American Legion Family, will speak about their experiences.

•In the Tonawandas, on Sunday, Nov. 7, Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, 64 Center Ave., North Tonawanda, will hold an 11:15 a.m. Mass honoring veterans

•On Nov. 11 at 11 a.m., a Veterans Day ceremony will take place on the Renaissance Bridge in the City of Tonawanda by United Veterans Council of the Tonawandas. The event includes a dedication at the SeaBees monument at 2 p.m.

•The History Center of Niagara County hosts a special Veterans Day event called "World War II on the Home Front" for children ages 7 to 12 on Thursday, Nov. 11, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This hands-on, interactive program teaches children about what life was like for the families of soldiers who fought in World War II. Activities include collecting "scrap" around the History Center and learning how it was used in the war effort; planning a Victory Garden and playing a vegetable game; learning how meals were prepared using ration coupons; making posters to help the U.S. win the war; and hearing a World War II veteran tell his story.

Snacks will also be served. The cost is $10 per child; parents are free. Reservations are required. Call 434-7433.

•On Friday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. Post No. 264 American Legion will offer a family veterans program at Tonawanda Manor, 111 Ensminger Road.