By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Every year on Nov. 11, in observance of Veterans Day, communities throughout Rowan County honor the men and women who served in the armed forces and celebrate those who continue to serve.

Here’s a look at area community events celebrating veterans and towns closed for the federal holiday.

The Hefner VA Medical Center will host its annual Veterans Day program at 10 a.m., building No. 6 inside the social room. The program will feature the U.S. Army Field Band.

The keynote speaker for the program is American Legion Department Commander James Moore Jr. Other featured speakers include Medical Center Director Joseph Vaughn, Salisbury National Cemetery Director Steven Fezler, City of Salisbury Mayor Al Heggins and N.C. House of Representative Harry Warren.

The event will be followed by the annual Veterans Day Parade, which will begin at 1 p.m. on the Salisbury VA Medical Center campus beginning at Building No. 2. The parade will also traverse through downtown Salisbury beginning at 2:30 p.m. starting at West Harrison and South Main streets and end at Soldier’s Memorial Church located at 306 N. Church St.

A ceremony to dedicate the Rowan County Vietnam Veterans Memorial will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Monday at Salisbury City Park, corner of North Jackson and West Miller streets. Organizers urge those who plan to attend to bring lawn chairs or umbrellas, if needed.

Later this month, on Friday, Nov. 15 at 8 a.m., in honor of Veterans Day, Rufty-Holmes Senior Center will collect items to distribute to veterans at the NC State Veterans Home.

The following items are being collected: knit hats, word puzzles, pads/pens/pencils, small storage or pencil boxes, gloves, colorful highlighters, wallets and change purses.

The items will be gathered into gift bags for the veterans. Items can be delivered to Rufty-Holmes Senior Center located at 1120 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. Call 704-216-7714 for more details.

On Tuesday, the American Legion Auxiliary Department of North Carolina will celebrate 100 years of service to veterans with a proclamation reading presented by the town of Cleveland, 7:30 p.m. at Cleveland town hall, 302 E. Main St.

The following is the Veterans Day schedule for area towns:

• Landis town hall will be closed and community services will not be impacted.

• Spencer town hall will be closed and community services will not change.

• Rockwell town hall will be closed and services will not be impacted.

• Faith town hall will be closed and services will not be interrupted.

• Cleveland town hall will be closed, services will not be impacted.

• East Spencer town hall will be opened.

• Granite Quarry town hall will be closed and services will not change.

• China Grove town hall will be closed and there will not any scheduling changes to garbage and recycling services.