The Flint Hills Veteran's Coalition is holding a Veteran's Day Celebration Honor Parade and Ceremony on Monday, November 12, 2001 in Manhattan. Starting at 7 a.m. there will be a Veteran's Breakfast at the American Legion at 114 McCall Road.

At 9 a.m. the State and Territorial Flags will be displayed in the Riley County Court House Plaza on Poyntz Avenue. Posters will be displayed at several places: The Pathfinder at 304 Poyntz, Lilacs on the Prairie at 327 Poyntz, Sprint at 404 Poyntz, the Credit Bureau of Manhattan at 429 Poyntz and at Glenn's Music at 413 Poyntz.

At 9:30 a.m. the Veterans Day Honor Parade will start from the City Park on Poyntz Avenue and proceed to the Manhattan Town Center. Grand Marshal is MG Thomas F. Metz, Commanding General Fort Riley. At this time they have 39 entries signed up to be in the parade. A number of local school bands will be marching along with antique cars, antique army vehicles and present day military vehicles.

At 10:55 a.m. the commemorative program will began in the Wareham Opera House. The American Legion Post and VFW Post 1786 Color Guards will post the colors. Remarks will be made by the Manhattan Mayor Pro Tem Ed Klimek and by Russell Frey, Chairman of the Riley County Commission.

Speakers for the event are Kansas Senator Sam Brownback and MG Thomas F. Metz Commanding General of Ft. Riley.

The original Armistice Day on November 11, 1919 came about as a result of the end of WWI. The eleventh hour of the eleventh month was selected by the Allies as the time to sign the armistice to end the "war to end all wars." This date was used to celebrate the end of WWII, although the end of fighting in Europe occurred in May and in the Pacific in August 1945. The purpose of this day is to express our gratitude for peace and our own desire for the continuance of friendly relations with all people.

On Sunday, November 4th the Commodores Jazz Ensemble, US Navy will preform at 3:00 p.m. at the City Auditorium.