City of Opelika to Host Veterans Day & WWI Armistice Celebration

The City of Opelika invites the public to join us on Saturday,  November 10 as we host a Veterans Day and World War I Armistice  Centennial Celebration and pause to say thank you to our veterans.   “We  are excited to be hosting a bigger and better Veterans Day program this  year. Because it’s the concluding weekend of the WWI Centennial, we  decided we’d bring a bit of entertainment and fun to the event,” said  Mayor Gary Fuller. “The band is going to be extraordinary. We hope to  draw more folks from our surrounding communities, as well as more  families. It will be a great chance for our Opelika family to thank our  veterans for their service.” The morning of activities begins with a  breakfast from 8 - 9:45 a.m. for veterans and their families at Niffers at the Tracks at 917 South Railroad Avenue in Opelika. The breakfast is  FREE for veterans. At 10 a.m., the Veterans Day and WWI Armistice  Celebration will take place at Courthouse Square, featuring Guest  Speaker, WWI expert Dr. Marty Olliff. This year we will also have a live  performance by the New American Freedom Train Band. The patriotic show  is a moving and inspiring one-of-a-kind musical and experience. The New  American Freedom Train Show celebrates the strong foundation that made  America great; faith, family, military and work ethic. US Army Veteran  and award-winning Nashville recording artist Tim Maggart, of Opelika  Church of the Highlands Veterans Outreach team, is joined by a team of  talented musicians and production crew who work together to provide one  of the most unique, relevant and entertaining shows around. In the  spirit of unity, honor and respect, the New American Freedom Train Show  appeals to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. With every  performance, lives are touched, America’s heritage is honored and the  seeds for transforming communities are planted. The event will also  showcase Opelika Ovations, the competitive show choir group from Opelika  High School. Ovations is led by Jeremy Robinson and Amy Griffin. In  addition, the Auburn University Southeastern Raptor Center will be  bringing Aurea, a gold eagle who truly represents patriotism. 

Dr. Marty Olliff received his PhD from Auburn University in 1998 and  is a professor of History at Troy University Dothan Campus where he also  serves as the director of the Wiregrass Archives.  He is the editor of  The Great War in the Heart of Dixie: Alabama during World War I  (University of Alabama Press, 2008) and author of Getting Out of the  Mud: The Alabama Good Roads Movement and Highway Administration,  1898-1928 (University of Alabama Press, 2017). In addition, he has  served as president of the Society of Alabama Archivists, the Alabama  Association of Historians, and the Alabama Historical Association, as  well as being the most recent chairman of the Historic Chattahoochee  Commission. 

In the event of rain, the program and concert will be moved to First  Baptist Church, Opelika, in The 3:16 Center, located at 301 South 8th Street. 

Immediately following the show at Courthouse Square, the Museum of  East Alabama, located at 121 South 9th Street in downtown Opelika, will  host a special reception to honor all Veterans. 

The City hopes you will join us as we take the time to honor all who  have served our great country. 

Other Veterans Day Week News: 

All City  Offices will be closed on Monday, November 12 except for Lewis Cooper  Jr. Memorial Library and The Opelika SportsPlex.  Those two facilities  will be open:  the Library, normal hours - the SportsPlex, from 5 a.m.  to 5 p.m. 

Garbage Schedules for the week: Because Veterans Day falls on a  Monday, ALL GARBAGE AND RECYCLING SCHEDULES will be pushed back one  day.  

For more information, please contact Leigh Krehling, Community  Relations Officer at lkrehling@opelika-al.gov or 334.705.5136


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