Community events recognize, thank veterans

Here is a list of Veterans Day services, activities and meal opportunities planned for today in Bartholomew County.

DINING

Free food items for veterans and active-duty military personnel. Most require a military ID or to be in uniform.Applebee’s: 1900 E. 25th St., Columbus. Hours: 11 a.m. to midnight. Offer: Free items from select menu.Bob Evans: 221 Carrie Lane. Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Offer: Free items from select menu.

Chili’s: 1079 National Road, Columbus. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Offer: Free items from select menu.

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Fazoli’s: 3041 N. National Road, Columbus. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Offer: Free pasta bowl.

IHOP: 54 Johnson Blvd., Columbus. Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Offer: Specific pancake meals available for free.

Johnny Carino’s: 870 Creekview Drive, Columbus. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Offer: Free meal from a Veterans Day menu of about 20 items.

Little Caesar’s Pizza: 2106 Central Ave. Hours: Begins 11 a.m. Offer: Free lunch combo to first 30 guests with military ID.

Yellow Trail Museum: 644 Main St., Hope. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Offer: Free luncheon (soup, sandwiches, salad and dessert) for veterans and guests.

CEREMONIES

8:30 a.m.: Hauser Junior-Senior High School, State Road 9, Hope.9 a.m.: Hope Elementary School, State Road 9, Hope.11 a.m.: Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans, southwest corner of the Courthouse lawn, downtown Columbus.

1 p.m.: Honoring veteran residents at Greentree at Westwood assisted living housing, 4895 Pine Ridge Drive. Sponsored by the Bartholomew County Veterans Service office.

2 p.m.: Honoring veteran residents at Keepsake Village assisted living housing, 2564 Fox Point Drive. Sponsored by the Bartholomew County Veterans Service office.

2 p.m.: Our Hospice of South Central Indiana pinning ceremony at Miller’s Merry Manor, 7440 N. County Road 825E, Hope. Includes helicopter landing and photos, with each veteran receiving a plaque and pin; color guard and musical entertainment.

SPECIAL EVENTS

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Heartfelt Honors Quilts on display at the Bartholomew County Public Library, 536 Fifth St. Annual Heroes Tree honoring veterans on display on main floor through the end of the year. Anyone who visits may decorate an ornament to honor a veteran. Also on display: Military uniforms, a missing-man table and more.7 p.m.: USO Show with period music, dance, drama, comedy and other acts, The Clarion Hotel and Conference Center ballroom, 2480 Jonathan Moore Pike in Columbus. Free, but donations will be accepted for the USO club at Camp Atterbury. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

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Columnist Tom Taft suggests that Veterans Day and Election Day be combined, giving Americans a whole new reason to vote — to honor the veterans who have given so much to protect this right. See Opinion, Page A8.

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