Bitterroot Valley to Salute Veterans Thursday
Veteran's Day, November 11th, will include a number of ceremonies in the Bitterroot Valley this week. At 11 a.m. MST, the valley joins a nationwide "Bells of Peace" observance, with bells ringing as part of the World War One remembrance, when on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the war's armistice went into effect, ending the conflict. This will also be the first Veterans Day ceremony at the new National World War I Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The bells at the Ravalli County Museum and Hamilton's Fire Hall will be part of the honor for all Americans who served in WWI. And, at the same time in Corvallis, American Legion Post 91 will have members marching in a Veterans Day Parade. They invite all veterans to march as a group - no registration required. The group gather by the Corvallis High School, marches the length of Main Street, then reverses direction and marches back down the street.
At 2 p.m. Thursday, attention turns to the Ravalli County Museum in Hamilton. At the World War I doughboy statue on the museum lawn, American Legion Post 47 will conduct a program, including Military Honors, wreath presentations, singing of America the Beautiful, along with a rifle volley from the Bitterroot Marine Corps League Honor Guard and the playing of Taps.
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The program then continues inside the museum, where Ravalli County Museum Director Michelle Nowling will welcome the public, and the program will include the National Anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, a proclamation from Hamilton's Mayor, messages from Montana Congressmen, a presentation by the American Legion Post 47 and a benediction. Missoula has a number of Veterans Day observances, throughout Thursday. Here's a brief look at the Missoula plans..
The public is encouraged to attend. Ruth Cook of Ravalli American Post 47 said, "We are so grateful when the public comes to these kinds of events. Memorial Day (in May) is to honor those veterans who have died and Veteran's Day is to honor those veterans who are still alive. We want to see people come. That honors us and other veterans as well."