Perham and Wadena-Deer Creek High Schools to host public Veterans Day programs this week

Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Perham and Wadena Deer-Creek High Schools are both holding Veterans Day programs this week that are open to the public and lakes area veterans.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8 at 9:30 a.m., Wadena-Deer Creek Middle and High School will be holding their Veterans Day program, which will feature a free breakfast for area veterans and their families hosted by the Wadena-Deer Creek student council beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the student commons.

On Friday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m., Perham High School will be hosting their Veterans Day program.

The Perham event will include speeches from multiple current and former service members and also include a breakfast for veterans beginning at 8 a.m.

Formerly known as Armistice Day, which commemorates the end of fighting during World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Veterans Day was first celebrated in Birmingham, Alabama on Nov. 11, 1947 when one Alabama WWII veteran organized a “National Veterans Day” with a parade and other festivities to honor all veterans.

Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day by congress in 1954.

In November 1982, the Alabama veteran who organized the first Veterans Day celebration, Raymond Weeks, was awarded the Presidential Citizens medal from President Ronald Reagan.