A number of programs are scheduled to honor Jones County Veterans on Nov.. 11, the nation’s official Veterans Day holiday.

Jimmy Bass, president of the Veterans Memorial Museum on Hillcrest Drive in Laurel said the museum will hold a Veterans Day program at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. State Senator Chris McDaniel will be the speaker.

The program will be held outside if the weather is good. It will move inside if it rains.

“This will be a big event for us,” said Bass. “It’s all about remembering our heritage.

“It’s important for people of all ages to remember our heritage and the price that was paid for our freedom,” he added. “The young people today are not getting much teaching about our military heritage. We want to encourage the young people and let them know that everything is not free.”

Bass said Jones County Junior College will present a program following McDaniel’s speech. Once the program is done, people are invited to tour the museum.

In addition to the program at the museum, a Veterans Day celebration will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Jones County Junior College Fine Arts Auditorium. JCJC alumnus and veteran, A.B. Howard will be the special guest speaker. JCJC veteran students and employees, other college students, and some Jones County elementary students will participate in the activities.

The Jones County Junior College Nontraditional Student Association (NTSA) is collaborating with the Laurel Veterans Museum to make both events spectacular. “Veterans are nontraditional students,” said Diane Williams, JCJC Nontraditional Student Association sponsor and director of the JCJC Nontraditional Student Success Center. “We wanted to honor and recognize our vets on campus and in the community because more veterans are coming back to school, or their families are here getting a higher education.

“We appreciate their efforts as they have, and are currently fighting for our freedoms and the freedoms of others,” added Williams.

Elementary students will present letters to the veterans at the JCJC event. JCJC musicians will be providing music at both events and Laurel Veterans Memorial Museum officials, Irving Gatlin, Victor Lee, and James Bass have helped to coordinate both events. Jones County residents have also helped with a special project coordinated by the NTSA.

“Many community leaders, churches, schools, businesses, and JCJC clubs and organizations have participated in a special collection of items for our soldiers,” said Williams. “We have been collecting items since school started and we will present this and other special items to the veterans, representing those in active duty.”

Also, the Veteran Service Center will have various memorabilia in the Fine Arts auditorium lobby for public display. A reception will be held at the Nontraditional Student Success Center, located at the junction of Highway 29 and Augusta Road, following the program.

Glade Elementary School will present its annual Veterans Day Program at 9 a.m. Wednesday. The title of this year’s program is “This is America” and will be performed by the third and fourth grade students.

All programs are open to the public.