Assemblies are planned today through Sunday to commemorate Veterans Day and honor all military members who have served and are serving their country:

 The National Honor Society of Columbia Falls High School presents its annual Veterans Day Assembly at 10:30 a.m. today in the school gymnasium.

This year’s program includes a special presentation honoring three local veterans, as well as an opportunity to recognize veterans from the Montana Veterans Home.

Several local elementary students will read their winning essays composed for the ceremony.

One topic for this year’s contest asked students to explain the following quote by President John F. Kennedy and how they can apply it to their own lives: “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

The second topic was “With freedom comes responsibility. Describe some of these responsibilities that veterans might have had during their time with the military service.”

Inspiring musical selections will be performed by Columbia Falls High School band and choir students.

The public is encouraged to attend. Seating will begin at 10 a.m. For further information, contact the high school at 892-6500.

 Bigfork Middle School will honor veterans during an assembly at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Bigfork High School gym.

The VFW Auxiliary will present a program honoring MIAs and POWs. Gold Star mothers and fathers who have lost children who were serving in the military will also be recognized.

The middle and high school bands and choirs will perform. Awards will be presented to the winners of the Patriots Pen student essay contest sponsored by the VFW.

Refreshments will be served and reserved parking will be available for veterans and the public.

 The Whitefish High School Student Council sponsors its annual Veterans Day observance and celebration at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, in the school gym.

The program will last approximately one hour.

Guest speaker will be Sgt. Rod Samdahl.

Patriotic selections by the high school band, high school and middle school chorus, orchestra and drum line will be featured.

Veterans across the valley are invited to attend in uniform, and community members are encouraged to attend and show their thanks and appreciation to those who have served our country.

 The VFW auxiliary will hold a special ceremony to honor MIAs and POWs at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. The public is invited.

 Lakeside Elementary School invites the public to its Veterans Day remembrance at 2:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, in the school gym at 2:15 p.m. Guests are asked to arrive by 2 p.m. to be seated. All veterans and service people are encouraged to wear their uniforms.

For more information, call Judy Harris at 857-3531, or the school at 844-2208.

 The Bigfork VFW is having an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9. The cost is $7 for the general public. Veterans eat free.

Bigfork Post 4042 is located at 7950 Montana 35. Call 837-0666 for more information.

 Kootenai Valley Christian School invites the community to its Veterans Day program at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at the Libby Christian Church, 100 Kootenai River Road.

 The Flathead Valleyaires Men’s Barbershop Chorus has three concerts in three communities in honor of Veterans Day.

All proceeds from the concerts at churches in Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Bigfork will go to the Northwest Montana Veterans Food Pantry and Montana Wounded Warriors.

In addition to the Valleyaires, several other barbershop groups will perform. The Men with No Name, an octet selected from the chorus, will sing patriotic and Western music.

Too Sharp to be Flat, a mixed quartet of both men and women, will perform popular favorites. Big Sky Classic Touch, a men’s quartet from the ranks of the Valleyaires, will sing patriotic tunes.

On Sunday, the Five Valley Sweet Adelines Women’s Chorus will join in with their own repertoire.

The Veterans Day performances will contain patriotic songs, as well as popular and blues numbers.

The performance schedule is as follows:

• Friday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m., Epworth United Methodist Church in Kalispell.

• Saturday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m., Columbia Falls United Methodist Church.

• Sunday, Nov. 11, 3 p.m., CrossRoads Christian Fellowship in Bigfork.

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door or at the Whitefish or Bigfork VFWs, Norm’s News in Kalispell, Glacier Wallflower Floral Shop in Columbia Falls, or the Pocketstone Cafe in Bigfork.

For more information, call 890-1882.

n The United Veterans of the Flathead Valley will host a Veterans Day ceremony on Sunday at Depot Park in Kalispell.

Events will commence at 10:45 a.m. with a patriotic musical prelude, followed by a flag raising ceremony at 11 a.m., welcome and the Pledge of Allegiance.

After an opening prayer, Maj. Gen. Ret. Paul Vallely will give a brief introduction at 11:10 a.m., followed by the Veterans Day address by Bigfork resident Jerry Molen from 11:15 to 11:30 a.m.

The National Anthem will then be sung and the United Veterans of the Flathead Valley will perform an honor guard ceremony and playing of “Taps” at approximately 11:34 a.m., with a closing prayer and blessing concluding the ceremony.

Guests are encouraged to bring folding chairs and are invited to fellowship time at noon at the Kalispell Elks Lodge.

 The Kalispell VFW Post 2252 invites the public to a flag raising ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. Free chili and hot dogs will be served afterward. The address is 330 First Ave. W.

 The Flathead Valley Community Concert Association will present a Veterans Day concert featuring the well-known local brass ensemble BrassWerks from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, at Flathead High School. A reception will follow.

The first 220 veterans will be admitted free. Tickets are $10 each, with $1 going to the Flathead Chapter of the Wounded Warriors. Those attending are asked to bring canned food to donate to the Veterans Food Pantry.