The Bradford community will have multiple opportunities over the next week to show their appreciation for veterans, as several Veterans Day events are being held.

Lt. John C. Roche VFW Post #212 will host a dinner for veterans and visit veterans in nursing homes and Bradford American Legion Post #108 will hold a ceremony at Veterans Square. Also, vets who are related to local elementary students will be honored at events at School Street and George G. Blaisdell elementary schools.

On Saturday, The American Legion will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. at Veterans Square in Bradford.

Legion Commander Andy Ackler said a band from Bradford Area High School will perform patriotic songs, and several guests will do readings or give speeches. Speakers include Ackler, the first vice commander, second vice commander, the chaplain, president of the Auxiliary and a woman veteran.

Meanwhile, VFW Post #212 has a long day of honoring veterans planned for Sunday, according to Val Meacham of the Frances Sherman VFW Auxiliary.

The day will begin at 10:30 a.m., when auxiliary members will meet at the Vets Club to go visit area nursing homes.

“We go in to see each veteran, shake their hands and thank them for their service,” Meacham explained of veteran visits at nursing homes. “If they want to chat, we chat. It’s a blessing on both sides of the spectrum. Honestly, you go away with a warm feeling that you did something good that day.”

With any luck, there will be many from the auxiliary to make rounds at the local facilities.

“All auxiliary members are welcome to come and spread some cheer,” she said.

Starting at 5 p.m. in the VFW Events Center, the auxiliary will host a Veterans Day dinner and program to honor veterans.

Seating is limited, and attendees are asked to make reservations for dinner with the preferred dinner choice by Thursday. Sign up at the club or call 368-3011.

Meacham is happy to provide a meal as a way to honor those who served the United States.

“It is a pleasure to serve our veterans a dinner on Veterans Day,” she said. “Make it nice for them and feed them something good.”

The speaker will be Staff Sgt. Steven Kloss with the Pennsylvania National Guard and VFW Post 212’s senior vice commander.

At 5 p.m., members and guests will gather for cocktails and musical entertainment by Kathy Paterniti. At 6 p.m. the Missing Man Ceremony will be conducted by Auxiliary President Amy Peterson and VFW Post 212 Commander/Pennsylvania Jr. Vice Commander Ron Peters, followed by a moment of silence.

Dinner will follow the ceremony. A dinner of chicken and biscuits or hot meatloaf will be complimentary for veterans and $5 for guests, said Meacham. The meal will include salad, sides and desserts. Boy Scout Troop 412 will be helping serve attendees.

After dessert, Kloss will speak, and Peterson and Peters will offer comments.

For veterans who are unable to make it to VFW events, the auxiliary makes trips to Bradford nursing homes to ensure residing veterans know they are appreciated.

“The auxiliary tries to visit as much as possible at our local homes,” said Meacham. “We go to The Pavilion, Bradford Manor, Ecumenical Home and Chapel Ridge. Auxiliary hospital chairs Pat Crooks and Connie Farrell “try to do something different for each visit.”

On Sunday, the auxiliary plans to bring crafts they will make this week.

She said the activities directors at each facility help out by providing a list with each tenant who is a veteran. She noted the number usually ranges from 60 to 70.

Meacham talked about the importance of younger veterans taking over in vet groups as older members pass away.

“Over the years that I have been in the auxiliary I’ve watched the steady decline in our veterans,” she said. “We used to have a full house for this dinner. We have lost many of our World War II and Korean veterans. Those guys kept the VFW going for years. Now we need our younger veterans to step up and take the reins.”

New faces can mean innovation for those groups.

“Veterans organizations are changing all across the country because of younger ones stepping up,” she said.

For everything the Bradford VFW does, its auxiliary is there to help.

“That’s one thing I can proudly say is we have an outstanding auxiliary that works well together,” said Meacham. “We try to keep things fresh and different, but still hold on to the roots of days gone by.”

The auxiliary works hard to meet its goal to honor veterans.

“Our Auxiliary President Amy Peterson has had so many tried and true ideas through the years,” Meacham said. “We are honored to stand by her and by our VFW. Veterans Day dinner is a drop in the bucket of how we feel about our beloved veterans … the ones that are still here and those that have gone on before us.”

Meanwhile, two Bradford elementary schools have invited veterans to attend ceremonies in their honor, one Friday and one Monday.

At 9:30 a.m. Friday, School Street Elementary will have a program, said Principal Sarah Tingley. She noted that attending veterans were asked to sign up ahead of time “so they can be recognized properly.”

She added, “Of course, anyone from the general public is welcome to come watch” the School Street program. “We’d love to have them witness this amazing and uplifting program.”

Similarly, GGB will host an assembly at 9:15 a.m. Monday in the gymnasium. Students are invited to ask relatives or friends who are veterans to attend.