In Montgomery County, Veterans Day will be marked with music, poetry readings, art and the groundbreaking for a new education and visitors center at Veterans Memorial Park in Conroe.
Veterans Day is a federal holiday celebrated each Nov. 11 to honor military veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
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Here is what to know about five Veterans Day events in Montgomery County.
Veteran author talk
For the Montgomery County Literary Arts Council’s Writers in Performance Series, Brian Van Reet will read and discuss his novel, “Spoils” at Lone Star College-Montgomery at 7 p.m. Thursday in room G-102. The event is free to the public.
Van Reet was born in Houston and spent some of his childhood in Maryland. Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, he left the University of Virginia and enlisted in the U.S. Army. In 2008, three years after returning from Iraq, he began publishing fiction while earning a master’s in English at the University of Missouri.
For more, contact Dave Parsons at 936-524-6537 or Cliff Hudder at Clifford.w.hudder@lonestar.edu.
Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park
The Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park at the southeast corner of Texas 105 and Interstate 45 in Conroe was dedicated in May 2021.
The Veterans Day ceremony at the park begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at the south entrance to the park. Parking is in the adjacent commuter lot under I-45. Featured speakers include State Rep. Will Metcalf, R-Conroe, and Sheri A. Hummer, retired U.S. Marine Corps captain. Music is from Conroe’s Jazz Connection group of high school and junior high musicians.
New U.S. Army recruits will be sworn in and the newest panels on The Line monument will be dedicated. The panels feature the names of veterans from the area and across the country.
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During the event, members of the veterans commission will break ground on a new education and visitors center at the park.
The facility will pay tribute to veterans, serve as an education space for the community and school children and offer a gathering space. It will also serve as the headquarters for the veterans commission.
See more about the park at the veterans commission Facebook page.
Former POW speaks in Conroe
Six years, nine months and four days — that’s the length of time 1959 Conroe graduate Col. James E. Ray spent as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. He was shot down on Mother’s Day 1966 and was released two days before Valentine’s Day 1973.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of his release, Ray will be the featured speaker at a Veterans Day event hosted by the Heritage Museum of Montgomery County. His talk will take place Saturday at the Owen Theatre, 225 Metcalf Street. Doors open at noon with his talk beginning at 1 p.m.
No ticket is needed and the theater will have open seating.
The Woodlands Township
The Woodlands Township’s Veterans Day celebration will take place in a new location this year. The opening ceremonies and presentation of colors will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Northshore Park, 2505 Lake Woodlands Drive, The Woodlands.
New for 2023, participants are encouraged to create their own masterpieces to display at the event. The art exhibit will provide an opportunity for residents to honor their own military heroes. Submissions for the exhibit should focus on individuals who have served the United States in a military branch (active duty, retired or those who have died).
Entries are due to The Woodlands Township no later than 5 p.m. Thursday at 2801 Technology Forest Blvd. See a link at The Woodlands Township’s website to participate.
A proclamation will be read at the park’s stage at 3:10 p.m. and the featured speaker at 3:15 p.m. is Lt. Colonel Rais Sanchez (U.S. Army). Music from the band Time Warp continues until 5 p.m.
Ardest Gallery
Ardest Gallery is a fine arts gallery in The Woodlands. It has a slate of events in November celebrating local veteran artists in support of Veterans Day.
The events kick off with a poetry reading by Marine Veteran Brandon Dillon at 7 p.m. Friday, followed by the opening reception of “SALUTE” highlighting works by more than 25 local veteran artists. The reception is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Later in the month, the gallery is set to host a R.A.R.E. Art Veteran Date Night in support of local organization Working with Hope. A percentage of proceeds from all works sold within the gallery throughout the month of November will directly go to the Conroe VFW 4709 Post.
The gallery is at 25200 Grogan’s Park Drive, The Woodlands. See the gallery’s website for more.
