The Veterans Affairs of Dawson County will be presenting a Veterans Day celebration Monday, Nov. 12 at Dawson County Junior High School.

The day will start at 1 p.m. with a luncheon for the veterans, active military and law and emergency personnel and their spouses in the school cafeteria.  Lunch will be served by the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority.

The ceremony will follow at 2 p.m. and a parade through downtown Dawsonville will begin at 3:30 p.m.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, and to celebrate that this year’s parade will honor WWI veterans with a soldier in a 100-year-old WWI uniform.

Leading the parade will be Grand Marshal Al Wilson, a WWII veteran. The parade will also feature the Dawson County High School band, vintage military vehicles, Junior ROTC cadets, floats from local organizations and a number of show vehicles.

“We invite all veterans to join us for lunch, and all Dawson County residents to join us for the program and parade and help us honor our veterans and the memory of those who served in the ‘Great War,’ World War I,” said Don Brown, past president of veterans affairs. 
Other Veterans Day events will start this weekend.

The American Legion Post 247 will be holding a flag retirement ceremony at 10 a.m. Nov. 10 at Veterans Memorial Park in Dawsonville. Boy Scout Troop 422 will also assist in the program.

They invite anyone with any old, unusable flags to be disposed of, to bring them for a dignified disposal. It is also recommended that attendees bring a chair.

In Dahlonega, the United States Army Rangers are sponsoring the second annual Veterans Appreciation Weekend Celebration Nov. 10-12.

Events include a 5/10K charity run (Run for Rangers) at 8 a.m. Nov. 10 followed by the annual Veterans Day Parade at 10 a.m. A music festival at Hancock Park will follow from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Food, beverages and merchandise will be available in the park.  Admission for all veterans is free.

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 11 there will be a 64 mile metric/32 mile half metric/20 mile charity fundraising cycling ride beginning at Hancock Park, and scheduled for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 12 is the first annual Team Ranger Golf Tournament at Achasta Golf Course in Dahlonega. Proceeds will be used for veterans’ aid and support programs.

Visit www.veteransappreciationday.org to register for events or make a donation.

Also this weekend, No One Alone is hosting their annual Chili Cook-Off from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 10 at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Dahlonega.

Everyone is invited to the all-you-can-eat chili lunch that includes chili and all the fixings plus corn bread, a drink and banana pudding. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under. Kids five and under eat free and families pay a maximum of $25. Veterans eat half price.

Proceeds benefit No One Alone and help victims of domestic abuse.

On Nov. 27, the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Business After Hours honoring veterans.

The Business After Hours will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame and the speaker will be Colonel Billy Wells.
The event will be catered by Tam’s Backstage. RSVP at www.dawson.org or call (706) 265-6278.