When: Monday, November 11th, 2019
Time: 8 AM
Where: Opelika City Hall
204 South 7th Street
Opelika, AL 36801
Join the City of Opelika on Monday, November 11 as they host a Veterans Day Celebration and pause to say thank you to our veterans!
The morning 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 Celebration will take place at the Opelika City Hall. Guest speakers are Army Colonel Richard Pelham and USMC Colonel Chris Richie. They will speak on “Veterans: Why We Serve – Past, Present and Future.” The event will also showcase the Opelika High School Choir.
Col. Pelham of Opelika is a U.S. Army Officer assigned to the faculty of the United States Air Force Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. He is in the Department of Leadership and Warfighting where he teaches Strategic Leadership and the Profession of Arms, Future Concepts in Air Power and Theater Strategy and Campaigning. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2nd Award), the Army Meritorious Service Medal (3rd Award), the Army Commendation Medal (4th Award), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star and the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal, along with various other awards. Col. Pelham is married to the former Christy Stanfield of Opelika and they have two children.
Col. Richieis the Marine Corps Advisor to Air University, a faculty instructor in the Department of Leadership and Warfighting and the Director of the Air War College Executive Leadership Series. He has served in 19 countries and is an award-winning author published in military professional journals and has been honored as a key-note motivational speaker on several occasions.
In the event of rain, the program will move inside to the City Council Chambers.
Immediately following the program, the Museum of East Alabama, located at 121 South 9th Street in downtown Opelika, will host a special reception to honor all veterans.
For more information, contact Leigh Krehling.