Here’s a list of Veterans Day activities planned for Manatee County

A parade, speeches, special events at college campuses and more highlight Veterans Day events in Manatee County this year.

The centerpiece of the salute to veterans is the annual program that begins at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 in Palmetto with a Veterans Day address by Brian Jacobs, this year’s Col. Frederick J. Graves Veteran of the Year recipient.

Jacobs is the founder of the Vets-2-Chefs program at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. Jacobs was wounded in a mortar attack while serving as a Navy corpsman in Iraq.

USF Sarasota-Manatee launched the program in 2014 as a way of helping returning war veterans become chefs.

This year’s program differs from those in the past in that the presentations and speeches, at Sutton Park, Palmetto, will be held first, followed by the parade.

The parade will step out from Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1402 14th Ave. W., and end at Sutton Park.

Other Manatee County Veterans Council honorees to be recognized prior to the parade are civilian of the year Charles Clapsaddle, station manager for METV, and auxiliary member of the year Mary Silcox.

Rounding out the festivities will be a band performance at Sutton Park.

Other Veterans Day events and activities planned before Veterans Day:

▪ The annual USF Sarasota-Manatee Veteran Appreciation Day is set for 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Nov. 2. This is a come-and-go style family event with activities throughout the day. The public is invited. A lunch will be served. Veterans of all ages are invited.

▪ The Yellow Ribbon Homeless Veterans Program, part of Turning Points’ effort to assist the homeless citizens in Manatee County, is holding its 19th annual Stand Down event 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Manatee County Fair Grounds, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto.

▪ State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota has its salute to veterans Nov. 6-9 at the Bradenton Campus, Building 60, Room 102 of the Veterans Center. Events planned include a program on what Veterans Day is about 11 a.m. Nov. 6 by SCF Collegiate School students; Wear red to school day Nov. 8 to remember deployed troops; and a panel discussion by SCF veterans sharing their stories 2-3:30 p.m. Nov. 9. Root beer floats will be served.

▪ The Roskamp Institute, 2040 Whitfield Ave., will be hosting its annual open house honoring veterans and military personnel 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Institute. The program will feature presentations on research and treatments into disorders that especially impact military personnel and veterans, such as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder and Gulf War Illness. The public is invited to the free event. For more information, contact Sally Goulet at 941-752-2949. RSVP to 941-752-2949 or info@roskampinstitute.net.

▪ Goodwill Manasota’s Veterans Services Program will host a breakfast and open house 8:30-10:30 a.m. Nov. 10 at the Veterans Services Program office, 8490 Lockwood Ridge Road. The program is free and open to the public but RSVPs are requested to 941-355-2721, ext. 165.

▪ The City of Anna Maria will be sponsoring its first “Old Soldiers & Sailors Parade” honoring veterans. The parade begins at Anna Maria City Hall. 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria at 1 p.m. Nov. 10 and ends at the City Pier Park. The parade marshal is Sen. Jack Latvala of Clearwater, a Florida gubernatorial candidate. There will be an honor guard, flag ceremony, special veterans recognition ceremony along with floats and bagpipers. There will be two 100-plus piece marching bands -- Lakewood Ranch and Manatee High Schools. All veterans are welcome to participate in the parade and should muster at Anna Maria City Hall by 12:30 p.m. to be included. Veterans may either walk or ride in the one-third parade. An old-fashioned ice cream social will be held at the historical museum following the parade.

▪ The Family of God United Methodist Church, 5601 16^th Ave. E., Palmetto, will have a Veterans Day celebration and concert 7 p.m. Nov. 11. Tickets can be obtained by calling 941-729-6055. A ceremony recognizing all branches of the service will feature the Palmetto High School Honor Guard. It will be followed by a “Coming to America” Neil Diamond sounds-like show with the help of a sounds-like Barbra Streisand.

This story was originally published October 31, 2017 at 4:48 PM with the headline "Here’s a list of Veterans Day activities planned for Manatee County."