Veterans Day celebration planned for Sunday in New Albany

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November 7, 2012

Veterans Day celebration planned for Sunday in New Albany

Government observing holiday Monday

By DANIEL SUDDEATH daniel.suddeath@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Wed Nov 07, 2012, 09:39 PM EST

NEW ALBANY — From the Pacific Theater of World War II to the deserts of Iraq, those who have fought for the country will be honored Sunday during a Veterans Day program in New Albany.

Though the government observation of the holiday will be Monday, New Albany Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1693 will stick to tradition and hold their memorial program on Veterans Day.

The program will begin at 1 p.m. in the Veterans Plaza on Market Street in downtown New Albany.

“Twice a year we honor our veterans, and we should,” said Dick Durlauf, chaplain for the V.F.W. Post 1693 and a veteran of World War II.

The post also holds a service to honor deceased veterans on Memorial Day each year.

Sometimes the crowds are large for the Veterans Day event, sometimes they are small, but Durlauf said it’s important to set aside time to honor those who have served their country through military commitment.

“We would like to get more and more people to attend,” he said.

While the post will hold a banquet Monday at its Grant Line Road headquarters, Durlauf said the decision was made to hold the memorial program on Veterans Day since that is the established day to remember those who have served.

“It’s a confusing thing this time because it’s on Sunday,” he said.

The New Albany Board of Public Works and Safety voted to close Market Street near Fifth Street from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday for the program.

The event is free and the public is urged to attend.

Veterans Day was established to coincide with other global celebrations that were based on the signing of the peace treaty that ended World War I in 1918. Veterans Day is held Nov. 11 each year.

Read the News and Tribune Friday for a rundown of more Veterans Day events.