VIDALIA — Area veterans and their supporters have a full calendar of events this week, beginning today at Vidalia High School.

VHS is the first of three area schools to host programs honoring veterans this week.

All veterans are invited to attend a program beginning at 9 a.m. in the school’s gymnasium.

Mary Evelyn Cupit, who is coordinating the event with Sharon Patrick, said Lt. Col. Billy Shaidnagle would be the guest speaker.

Shaidnagle, a former Marine, taught science at Vidalia High, too.

“We’re excited to get involved with the veterans. I enjoy doing it,” Cupit said. “It’s a big deal and we had a lot in attendance last year. I’m just glad to give back to the veterans because of everything they do for our country. It’s an honor.”

The VHS program will also include drawings and giveaways sponsored by local banks. Refreshments will be distributed by the Vidalia Women’s League.

The other two programs will be on Thursday, Veterans Day.

Ferriday High School will honor all veterans at 10 a.m.

This event, coordinated by Sandy Scruggs-Cobb, will be FHS’s seventh annual Veterans Day program.

It will be titled “Honoring Heroes.” Live music and singing will entertain the veterans followed by a reception in the Consumer Science Building.

“An event of this caliber gives the whole school an opportunity to give back to those who have given so much for us,” Scruggs-Cobb said. “Our entire student body and faculty come together to guarantee the program’s success. Whether it’s decorating the stage, serving cake and coffee, helping with the clean-up, or simply helping an elderly veteran to his seat, all of our students know that the focus is on being thankful for our veterans.

“We realize that we can never repay our veterans for the sacrifices they’ve made to maintain our safety and freedom. Sponsoring an event like this is the very least we can do for our country’s heroes.”

FHS encourages all the veterans and civilians to attend the free event.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College is sponsoring its third annual Co-Lin Salutes Veterans program at 11 a.m. Thursday in the W. L. Nelson Multi-Purpose Room in the Career and Technical Education Center.

“It’s Co-Lin’s Veteran’s Day Program as well as the community’s,” director of public information Mark LaFrancis said. “We encourage the public, veteran or not, to come.

“We’re proud to serve veterans.”

LaFrancis, a veteran himself as an Air Force Reserve retiree, is the Veterans Day program coordinator. He served in the Air Force for 23 years.

During the commemoration there will be a film based on a Red Skelton skit titled “Pledge of Allegiance.”

Red Skelton is a famous comedian, but this will be a serious matter, said LaFrancis.

“We’ll have some special moments for our audience,” he said. “One new feature is a special two-minute film created for the program with Co-Lin staff and students.”

The original Co-Lin produced film “A Salute to Veterans” will be premiering at the event.