ASHLAND — Veterans in Ashland will have plenty of opportunities to be celebrated for their service over Veterans Day weekend.
Breakfasts, movies and school assemblies plan to honor them.
Friday
On Friday, some schools in the area plan to host assemblies for students to learn about veterans’ service.
Hillsdale Local Schools is hosting a special Veterans Day program, accompanied by an installment of a Veterans Memorial on school grounds. According to a media release from the district, the memorial was an Eagle Scout Service Project by Hillsdale senior, Lance Tucker.
At its Wednesday board meeting, Ashland County Community Academy shared that it plans to hold its first Veterans Day assembly on Friday morning, too. That event begins at 8:45 a.m. Students have participated in the planning process. Bob Desanto will serve as the guest speaker.
Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools has a Veterans Day program on Friday morning from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. It’s open to the community. Josh Summers, a Loudonville High grad who served in the elite 101st Airborne Unit, will serve as the guest speaker. Loudonville’s Future Farmers of America students will host a breakfast after the event, according to the district’s website.
Ashland City Schools’ different buildings will each have Veterans Day assemblies throughout the day. Some feature speakers, and others have invited family members to attend.
At Mapleton Local Schools, the elementary school, middle school and high school will host Veterans Day breakfasts. There will also be an assembly in the high school gym.
Saturday
Ashland Mayor Matt Miller will host his fifth annual veterans breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Eagles Club of Ashland on Saturday morning. He said each veteran can bring a guest to the event. It’s sponsored by the Millers and First Energy.
Miller said any questions can be directed to Amanda Furman, who can be reached at 419-289-8622.
The Ashland Theatre will also have a free movie screening for veterans, according to executive director Chris Skinner.
The film will be “The Great Escape.” The movie focuses on Allied prisoners during World War II, who plan to escape from a German camp. Showtimes are at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
“The theatre wanted to find a way to help appreciate veterans on a special day,” Skinner said.
Miller encouraged veterans to attend both the breakfast and the movie showing.
“Both are unique ways for the Ashland community to honor the men and women who’ve served,” Miller said.
The theatre partnered with American Veterans Appreciation Events — the group that hosts Ashland’s annual Veterans Appreciation celebration in August — and other sponsors to allow veterans to see a film and bring a guest for free.
Skinner added each veteran will receive a free beverage and free popcorn if they show. You can reserve tickets by calling ahead. Skinner said the theatre would also help those who just showed up on Saturday. Veterans can bring a guest, too.
Pam Mowry, the chair of American Veterans Appreciation Events, said the movie will have an intermission, since its run-time is over two hours.
She said a gift basket will be raffled off, too.
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