ROBERTSDALE, Alabama --- Folks in Central Baldwin County will be standing up and sitting down to honor local veterans with Veterans Day remembrances beginning this week.

One of the biggest celebrations will be a sit-down dinner hosted by the town of Loxley and the Loxley Church of God’s Senior Adult Ministry, which will hold a potluck fellowship and program entitled “In God We Still Trust,” beginning at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 at the Loxley Civic Center.

The program will feature a variety of entertainment, including a performance by the Church of God’s Living Video group and a special performance by the Town’s own City Rhythm Big Band featuring patriotic music from the 1940s and 50s.

“There will be a lot of World War II veterans in attendance who have taken the Honor Flight at they will be very familiar with the program,” said Civic Center Director Joey Knight, who is one of the founding members of the 18-piece ensemble group. “The Big Band has performed this show many times for the Honor Flight in Mobile and this will be a patriotic program harkening back to the days of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey.”

Fried chicken will be provided for the dinner, Knight said. Area veterans are encouraged to attend and all residents in the surrounding communities are asked to come and bring a side dish or dessert to compliment the entree. Participants with dishes are asked to arrive at 6:15 so the tables can be set and ready to go by 6:30, Knight said.

“We just want to make sure all veterans and their families know they are welcome,” said Loxley Council Member Katherine Breeden, who helping to coordinate the event on behalf of the Senior Adult Ministry. “We’re looking forward to a great turnout.”

Events surrounding Veterans Day will actually kick off on Wednesday, Nov. 7 when the George P. Thames Senior Center hosts a veterans’ recognition program beginning at 1 p.m. at the Center on East Chicago Street in Robertsdale.

The Robertsdale Healthcare Center on U.S. Highway 90 will also host a veterans’ recognition program at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8.

All local public schools will let out at noon on Friday, Nov. 9 with the Veterans Day holiday observed countywide on Monday, Nov. 12.

Robertsdale Elementary School and Central Baldwin Middle School will host Veterans Day observances on Thursday, Nov. 8.

The program at RES will be held beginning at 9 a.m. in the school’s auditorium, with the CBMS program, “For The People, By The People,” being held beginning at 1:15 in the school’s gym.

Students will present “The United States Constitution; reviver Philadelphia.”

Elsanor and Rosinton schools will host programs Friday morning, both set to begin at 10 a.m.

The Gear Jammers Car Club will also be hosting a show at Elsanor School on Friday morning prior to the school’s program which will include recognition of all veterans, along with a patriotic program.

Central Christian School will host its Veterans’ Day program beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12 in the school’s gymnasium, located on Highway 104 in Robertsdale.

Veterans Day originally began on Nov. 11, 1919 when President Woodrow Wilson declared the day Armistice Day in remembrance of the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles ending World War I.

In 1938, by act of Congress, the day was declared a legal holiday, which was amended in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day in honor of all veterans.

After the date was changed several times at various points in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, President Gerald R. Ford signed a proclamation returning Veterans Day to Nov. 11 in 1978, where it has remained every year since.

Since Nov. 11 falls on Sunday, the Veterans Day national holiday will be observed this year on Monday, Nov. 12.

All veterans and their families are invited to participate in all of the local programs.