This Monday is Veterans Day, and in Dallas County there are several opportunities to honor those who have served in the United States armed forces.

The Perry and Adel-DeSoto-Minburn school districts will host annual celebrations Monday morning, which are free and open to the public. The Perry program will be held in the Performing Arts Center at the high school, starting at 10 a.m. This is the 22nd year for the Perry Veterans Day Celebration, which will once again be preceded by a panel discussion for the students. Meanwhile, students at ADM Middle School will have a full day of Veterans Day activities, which will also include the public assembly in the auditorium at 11 a.m.

American Legion posts around Dallas County will also host individual programs Monday, including the annual Veterans Day service at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter at 8 a.m. The Van Meter Legion will also host a free breakfast for the public immediately following the service. There will then be a coffee and treats open house from 5-7 p.m. at the Adel Legion, and a free soup supper from 5:30-7:30 p.m. hosted by the Dexter Legion. Dallas County Veterans Affairs Director Nick Praska encourages the public to make it to at least one celebration on Veterans Day, as he says it’s important to recognize the sacrifices of the armed forces. “It’s a way to honor the service of veterans who have volunteered and who have been called up to go overseas and serve on foreign ground to protect the nation back home, and their friends and family back home. It’s just a great opportunity to thank those that have been willing to sign up and serve, and put their lives on the line.”

Praska also points out, Veterans Day is to honor the men and women no longer serving in the military, while Memorial Day is dedicated to those who died while in the service, and Armed Forces Day is for soldiers currently serving. To learn more about Veterans Day and the Dallas County VA, listen to today’s Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program on air and at RaccoonValleyRadio.com.