NATCHEZ &8212; A ceremony to honor men and women who have served or are serving their country in the armed forces will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park.

The tradition of the triple elevens goes back to the end of World War I, when hostilities in that great war ceased in the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

Plans immediately evolved to remember the day as Armistice Day. In 1954, however, Armistice Day was transformed into Veterans Day.

John Goodrich will be master of ceremonies for the Saturday program. A veteran of the Vietnam War, where he flew helicopters, Goodrich said it is appropriate to set aside a day for veterans.

&8220;It&8217;s an opportunity for the common man to stand up and salute his warriors,&8221; Goodrich said.

&8220;Whether you agree with what is going on in Iraq or agreed with what went on in Vietnam, you need to know, to recognize the commitment these people have given,&8221; he said.

Veterans Day is different from Memorial Day, the day in May set aside for those who gave the ultimate &8212; their lives &8212; in battle, Goodrich said.

&8220;Veterans Day is for the living, a celebration of people who are alive and have served or are serving in the military.&8221;

Goodrich has been saddened by a lack of attendance at ceremonies such as Veterans Day in recent years and ponders what he sees as a diminished sense of patriotism since the mid 20th century.

Still, he remembers other times uncomfortable for soldiers and sailors, especially the Vietnam era.

&8220;I was spit on, and people asked me how many babies I killed when I returned from Vietnam,&8221; he said. &8220;People were very unkind.&8221;

A soldier does not like war, Goodrich said. &8220;My 25 years in the Army were meant to serve as a deterrent of war not in glory of combat. War is a political action; when negotiations break down, that&8217;s when wars occur.&8221;

The Saturday program will feature a keynote address by Steve Muro, field operations director for the National Cemetery Administration.

Other highlights will include participation by the Natchez High School JROTC, who will post the colors and retire the colors.

Natchez military veteran and former POW Robert Mims will present a Veterans Day reading.