It’s being called the biggest Veterans Day ceremony in Lincoln’s history. Doug McCallum with St. Mark’s United Methodist Methodist Church is the organizer and tells KLIN News they are expecting more than 2,000 people for Sunday evening’s Veterans Gratitude Celebration.
“There’s lots of Veterans events that go on, but we’re trying to concentrate it where you get a lot of people to come and you honor all six branches,” McCallum says. “This event is a powerful way for our community to come together and express our gratitude to the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform.”
Highlights of the evening include a performance by the U.S. Air Force Heartland of America Band, Raptor. a presentation of Quilts of Valor to four veterans touched by war and a live performance of God Bless America by Joe Everson as he paints a mural. That artwork will be auctioned off after the performance.
McCallum tells KLIN News they will have 12 educational partners that provides services to veterans in the back of church. “Housing for veterans, medical care, we’re going to have suicide hotline people there,” McCallum says. He stresses that these services are free for veterans and their families.
The event runs from 5:00–6:30 p.m. with a public reception to follow from 6:30– 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 4:00 p.m. All veterans and active-duty service members are encouraged to wear their uniforms, hats, or colors and to sit with their families in the section designated for their branch.