Jonesville — Catahoula Parish Veterans Day Program will be at 9:40 a.m. Nov. 11 at Block High School Gym. This is the sixth year that Principal Donald Money, Block High students and faculty have welcomed the veterans to the school by providing the site for the program.

The Veterans Day Programs at BHS was started in 2004 by Ruth King when she was employed at Concordia Electric Cooperative, Inc. as member service director. When King retired in 2006 honoring the Veterans was one thing she did not give up with her old job. Promoting the veterans throughout the year is something King is constantly doing, whether it is doing programs for veterans and Memorial Day, escorting WWII Veterans to Washington to see their Memorials, speaking to groups about Louisiana Honor Air or being President of the Boyd-Mann American Legion Auxiliary Unit 163.

“It takes a special person to serve our country in the military today,” King said. “It’s the dedication and commitment in the face of danger and war that some people don’t want to think about. It is that unselfish love for country and fellow Americans that make them so very special. It is an honor to recognize them.”

The 2009 keynote speaker for the program will be Catahoula Parish native Thomas Enright. Enright is the son of Leslie Enright of Sicily Island and Barbara Gilbert Haigh of Natchez. Enright served a tour in the United States Marines and then joined the U.S. Army Reserves from which he retired with 20 years of service. Enright, an attorney, from Baton Rouge presently serves on Gov. Bobby Jindal’s staff as deputy secretary of veterans affairs in Louisiana.

Block High School teacher and Retired Veteran from the U S Army Reserves LT Col Jeff McClure will Emcee the 2009 Program and led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Martie Hoover will be part of the program singing the National Anthem and J.C. “Sonny” Gilbert will introduce his grandson, Enright.

Immediately following the program at Block High School, the veterans and guests are invited to First Baptist Church in Jonesville where the program will continue with a video presentation of area veterans, refreshments and a time for the veterans to visit with other veterans.

Jonesville Lions Club will be providing hand held flags to be distributed at the program. This is the sixth year that Jonesville Lions Club has provided the flags for the Veterans Day Program in November and the Memorial Program in May.

Refreshments will be provided by a few of the local businesses and volunteers.

For more information about the program or to volunteer to help with the program you may contact Ruth King at 318-758-1422 or b_ann71343@yahoo.com.