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The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

That’s when an armistice went into effect during World War 1 – known then as “The Great War.”

And as fighting came to an end Nov. 11, 1918, in “the war to end all wars,” a seed was sown for what would become more than 100 years later an annual observance honoring the men and women who defend our country.

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

This weekend in the Miss-Lou, multiple celebrations, parades and programs will honor veterans and their service. In Natchez, G. Mark LaFrancis will be honored posthumously as the Patriot of the Year. LaFrancis, who died in June 2024 following a long battle with cancer, was the founding president of Home with Heroes Foundation Inc. and a tireless historian who championed and preserved the history of local veterans. The foundation is a private non-profit organization that works to help and honor veterans, as well as their loved ones.

U.S. Air Force veteran John “Captain Jack” Kerwin will be honored as the Veteran of the Millennia. U.S. Army veteran Ben Tucker, chairman of the board for Homes with Heroes, will serve as grand marshal for the city’s Veterans Day Parade. The celebrations on Monday begin with a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at Memorial Park, followed by the parade at 11 a.m. The parade begins at Memorial Park and will end at the Bandstand on the Bluff, with an awards ceremony.

We encourage everyone who can to take part.

Veterans Day remains a time to honor the men and women whose patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good are the greatest gift of all.