Field of Honor, veterans events happening this week
The annual Sun City Veterans Day Ceremony will be held on Tuesday, November 11, at the Georgetown-Williamson County Veterans Memorial Plaza, at 2 Texas Drive at 11 a.m. The East View High School band and orchestra will provide music beginning at 10:45 a.m.
This year’s guest speaker is Colonel Paul F. Howe, U.S. Army Chaplain, Ret. Refreshments will be served on the Social Center Patio once Colonel Howe has finished speaking and the ceremony has ended.
There will be 700 fold out chairs placed for the community. Guests can also bring their own chair and sit at the plaza under the trees.
Field of Honor
The Rotary Club of Georgetown will host the ninth annual Field of Honor from November 8-16 at San Gabriel Park in honor of Veteran’s Day. This year will also be the 250th birthdays of the Army, Navy and Marines.
This year will have a keynote speaker for the opening ceremony on November 9 and for Veteran’s Day on November 11.
The speaker for the opening ceremony is Captain Dave Carey (ret), a Vietnam War veteran who was a POW for five-and-a-half years. The speaker for Veteran’s Day is Major General Scott Efflandt (ret), former commander of Fort Hood and now the Director of the Military Talent Pipeline Department at A&M Central Texas.
As part of the Field of Honor tradition, San Gabriel Park will turn into a field of over 2,000 flags, some of which will have laminated photos and stories from veterans.
New or reposted flags can be used. New flags are $45 and reposted flags are $25. Reposted flags must be in good condition with no signs of stains or wear, fading and cannot have any frayed edges.
Flags can be bought at the Flag and Swag sales tent that will be open on November 8-14 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., November 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and November 16 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Field of Honor schedule of events
This is the schedule of events for the field of honor.
Saturday, November 8
- 9 a.m.: Flag and swag sales and reposts in the flag sales tent start
- 11 a.m. to noon: Marine Corps League birthday cake cutting ceremony
Sunday, November 9
- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.: All week the Rotary Club will have displays in the event tent to learn about the nonprofits efforts
- 10 a.m., noon, 3 p.m.: The Williamson County Sheriff’s K-9 unit will put on a demonstration to show how these units work to protect the community
- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Military and first responder exhibits and displays
- 1:30-2:45 p.m.: Opening Ceremony featuring an invocation hymn, flyovers from the Devil Dog and the Falcon Flight Formation Team, Parade Colors and more. Keynote speaker Captain Dave Carey (Ret) speaks
Monday, November 10 through Friday, November 14
- School field trips that are coordinated with Georgetown ISD. Homeschooled students will visit the field in the afternoon of Veterans Day for their field trip activities
- 6-8 p.m.: Free screening of the Ride on Center for Kids documentary
Tuesday, November 11
- 11 a.m. to noon: Veterans Day Ceremony with a flyover by the Falcon Flight Formation Team, music and a bell toll at 11:11 a.m. in honor of Armistice Day. The keynote speaker for this event is Major General Scott Efflandt (ret). There will be an all military branch cake cutting ceremony after the event.
- 2-6 p.m.: Quilt of Valor Ceremonies to present patriotic quilts to nominated veterans
Wednesday, November 12
- 6-7:30 p.m.: Village Elementary School children’s choir will present a patriotic performance for the public
Thursday, November 13
- 4:30-6:30 p.m.: A closed event with the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce for its “Business After Hours” event. Chamber members and their guests should register on the chamber’s website. Rotarians, Field of Honor sponsors and invited guests are also welcome.
Friday, November 14
- Noon: The Rotary Club will host a lunch meeting to honor invited veterans and first responder guests
Saturday, November 15
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Flag pick-up
- 1-6 p.m.: Quilt of Valor ceremonies to present patriotic quilts to nominated veterans
Sunday, November 16
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Final flag pickup; any flags not picked up will be considered donations to the Rotary
City office closures
In honor of Veterans Day, city offices will be closed. There will be normal solid waste and recycling collection.
The offices that will be closed include:
- Airport Terminal, 500 Terminal Drive
- Animal Shelter, 110 Walden Drive
- Art Center, 816 South Main Street
- City Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. Street
- Council and Courts Building (including Municipal Court), 510 West Ninth Street
- Georgetown Municipal Complex, 300-1 Industrial Avenue
- Grace Heritage Center, 817 South Main Street
- Parks and Recreation Administration, 1101 North College Street
- Planning Department, 809 Martin Luther King Jr. Street
- Public Library, 402 West Eighth Street
- Public Safety Operations and Training Center, Police Records, and Fire Support Services offices, 3500 D.B. Wood Road
- Recreation Center, 1003 North Austin Avenue
- Tennis Center, 400 Serenada Drive
- Visitors Center, 103 West Seventh Street
Staying open
Garey Park and the Transfer Station at 250 WL Walden Drive will be open.