Jackson County communities, organizations and schools plan to pay tribute to American veterans next week.

Veterans Day is observed on Nov. 11 each year, regardless of what day of the week it falls. In 1918, an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, and World War I became known as “the war to end all wars,” according to va.org.

In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. Each year after that, it was a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I.

By 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the nation’s history and after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, legislation was approved to make Nov. 11 a day to honor American veterans of all wars. It was changed to Veterans Day.

Locally, several programs are set on Veterans Day, but there are some before the holiday on Thursday.

Cortland Elementary School will be the first to have a program at 9:30 a.m. Monday. The school’s music teacher, Carolyn Jones, is organizing that program and also the one at Seymour-Redding Elementary School at 9:15 a.m. Thursday.

Margaret R. Brown Elementary School in Seymour will honor veterans at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Principal Tony Hack said fifth-graders will perform, and their family members and veterans associated with the students are invited to attend. The school also recently has been sharing veteran and Veterans Day facts with students over the announcements at school.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, the Seymour Middle School Sixth Grade Center and Freeman Municipal Airport invite the public and all veterans to a Veterans Day program near the veterans memorial at Gaiser Park in Seymour. Speakers will be Mayor Matt Nicholson, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925 Chaplain Gary Dyer, Airport Manager Don Furlow and Sixth Grade Center Principal Loriann Wessel. Sixth-graders also will conduct a wreath ceremony to honor all veterans for their service.

Trinity Lutheran High School in Seymour will have its 11th annual Veterans Day program at 10 a.m. Thursday. The program is open to veterans who have served or are serving, their families and the public. The school’s choir and band will perform a variety of patriotic songs, and a slideshow presentation will be shown. If you would like to include a veteran in the slideshow, email a scanned photo along with the name, rank, military branch and years of service to [email protected].

Two programs are set for 11 a.m. Thursday.

American Legion Post 89 in Seymour will have a ceremony downstairs at the post on West Second Street, followed by lunch.

VFW Post 1925 of Seymour is sponsoring the annual Veterans Day program at the Jackson County Courthouse in Brownstown. The service will include the raising of the flag by U.S. Marine Corps veteran Glen Killey, Pledge of Allegiance led by Marine Corps veteran Marvin Harsh, invocation and commemorative address by Brownstown Christian Church Associate Minister Doug Pogue, patriotic songs by John Spurgeon, gun salute by an honor guard and playing of “Taps” by Dick Parman.

At 1 p.m. Thursday, Emerson Elementary School in Seymour will have its Veterans Day program at First Baptist Church in Seymour. Principal Julie Kelly said it’s open to the public.

Finally, the Crothersville Junior-Senior High School History Club invites local veterans and active duty military personnel to a special program at 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Doors open at 1:15 p.m.

Also for Veterans Day, Brownstown Central High School social studies teacher Colton Patriquin put together a short video of students explaining why Veterans Day is important to them or thanking veterans who work at the school or are family members. The video will be shown to all students Thursday.