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Special to The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — Several Veterans Day programs will be held in Natchez, Vidalia, and Ferriday between November 6 and 12. Veterans of the U.S. military will be honored in schools, a park, a church, and in civic club gatherings, among other places.

In Natchez, G. Mark LaFrancis will be honored posthumously as the Patriot of the Year. LaFrancis passed in June 2024 following a long battle with cancer. He was the founding president of Home with Heroes Foundation Inc. 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.

“Veterans Day is a time of saying thank you,” said Mayor Dan Gibson. “Our community is full of patriots who have served, even those currently serving, who remind us that freedom is not free but rather comes at a price. I encourage all of our citizens to pause on November 11 to say thank you. And I hope all will take part in our special activities scheduled for this special day.”

Vidalia, November 6

On Wednesday, November 6, the Point Man International Ministries of the Miss-Lou,  a non-profit interdenominational Christian service organization that supports veterans and their families, will present a program honoring veterans at the Vidalia Lions Club luncheon at 402 Carter Street, Vidalia, according to Doug McCallister, the organizations president. He said his organization will give a status report of the “Cost of Freedom Tribute” memorial, among other things.

McCallister is a Vietnam Army veteran. He said this program and others organized by him, including those in which he participates, are done in partnership with the VFW Post 9573, the Vidalia American Legion Post 590, and the Natchez American Legion Post 4.

For more information, call McCallister at 601-431-2096.

Natchez, November 10

The 14th Annual Veterans Recognition program where veterans from the Miss-Lou area are honored and presented gift bags will be held at 8 a.m., Sunday, November 10,  at Zion Hill #1 Baptist Church at 349 Lower Woodville, Road. The event is free and open to the public.

Door prizes also will be given, announced Alice Jones, the 2024 chairperson for the program.

For more information, call 601-442-2782.

Natchez, November 11

Home with Heroes will support several Veterans Day programs on Monday, November 11, that will begin with Mayor Gibson leading a bench dedication ceremony at 10:30 a.m. for U.S. Navy veteran Steve Nielsen at Memorial Park. This news was shared by retired Army Lt. Col. Larry Smith, president of Home with Heroes.

Smith said the ceremony will be followed by a parade at 11 a.m. that begins at the park and proceeds on Main Street to the Bandstand on the Bluff on Broadway Street. Ben Tucker will be the grand marshal. The parade will also feature the Natchez High School Marching Band and the Air Force Junior ROTC Corps of Cadets.

The mayor will lead an awards ceremony at 11:20 a.m. at the Bandstand, where U.S. Army Air Corps and Air Force veteran John “Captain Jack” Kerwin will be recognized as the Veteran of the Millennia and the late G. Mark LaFrancis, US Air Force veteran, will be honored as the Patriot of the Year. The ceremony will conclude with a prayer of benediction and the bugle’s sounding of taps, to remember those who have died and to honor those veterans who are still with us.

These events are free and open to the public.

ACCS, November 11

On Monday, November 11, the Adams County Christian School will host its annual Veterans Day program at 1:30 p.m. It will feature Vietnam Army veteran Doug McCallister, president of the Point Man International Ministries of the Miss-Lou. McCallister said it will be a special time when the students recognize veterans and present displays representing people who serve — and have served — in the United States military. The students will also hear a presentation on patriotism by McCallister.

For more information, call McCallister at 601-431-2096.

Ferriday, November 12

A program honoring veterans will be held at 9 a.m., Tuesday, November 12, at the Delta Charter School. The annual event is organized by Doug McCallister of Point Man International Ministries of the Miss-Lou and his supporting organizations.

For more information, call McCallister at 601-431-2096