Veterans Day celebrated

These are among events in the area planned for Veterans Day:

UNIVERSITY HONORS: Everyone is invited to Saint Leo University's observance of Veterans Day at 11 a.m. today at the main campus, 33701 S.R. 52.

Participants and speakers will gather around the flags between Saint Edward and Saint Francis halls.

Retired Army Maj. Gen. John H. Little will be the guest speaker. The Saint Leo University Voices of Christ choir will perform.

After the service, there will be a free lunch for veterans and their families at the Student Community Center.

Today also is Fall Community Service Day at the main campus.

In the afternoon, student, faculty and staff volunteers will fan out to a variety of local nonprofit agencies to lend a hand with special projects and chores.

There will be no regular classes today at the main campus.

FREE CAR WASH: E-Z Clean Car Wash in Dade City is participating in Grace for Vets and providing free car washes today for all veterans and those serving in the military.

E-Z Clean is at 13010 U.S. 301. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call (352) 567-9494.

GROUNDBREAKING: Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 65 is breaking ground today for an addition.

The public is invited to the ceremony at 1 p.m. at 5325 Eighth St. in Zephyrhills.

Ephraim Sprung will sing the national anthem.

Three ROTC cadets will present the colors, and two ROTC cadets will bear rifles.

The Pledge of Allegiance will be recited.

There will be an invocation by the Rev. Jeff Smith of First United Methodist Church of Zephyrhills.

Several contractors and guests will don hardhats to break ground for the addition.

For information, contact Commander and Senior Service Officer James "Jim" Amerman at (813) 783-7012.

VFW HOLIDAY POST CEREMONY: VFW Holiday Post 10167, at 4619 Bartelt Road, Holiday, will celebrate Veterans Day at 11 a.m. today.

The public is invited.

People can bring U.S. flags for proper disposal.

For information, call (727) 938-5977.

CHURCH PRAYER SERVICE: First Presbyterian Church of Port Richey is observing Veterans Day with a prayer service at 11 a.m. today at 7540 Ridge Road.

At 12:30 p.m., a speaker from the Area Agency on Aging will talk about services available to seniors in Pasco County.

The public is invited to attend all or part of the day's activities. For information, call the church at (727) 849-1898.

FREE MEAL: All veterans and active-duty military personnel are invited to eat free at Applebee's restaurants today in honor of Veterans Day.

Because the response was so overwhelming in 2008, Applebee's is extending the invitation at all of its restaurants nationwide, company spokeswoman Linda Nelson said.

Veterans and active-duty military personnel who can show proof of service will get a free entree.

Proof of service includes U.S. Uniform Services identification card, U.S. Uniform Services retiree identification card, veterans organization card, photograph in uniform or wearing uniform.

For information, go online to www.applebees.com/vetsday.

WALKWAY DEDICATED: The public is invited to the final dedication of the Veterans Memorial Walkway in Zephyr Park at 11 a.m. today. The 600-foot brick walkway is a joint project of Zephyrhills, the Zephyrhills Noon Rotary Club, Zephyrhills Kiwanis and the Zephyrhills Pilot Club.

The walkway is at the southeast corner of Zephyr Lake, next to the Zephyr Haven nursing home.

Veterans of all services are eligible to have a granite brick placed in the walkway as a memorial. Serving overseas is not a requirement.

Local people who were killed in action will have an engraved granite stone placed in the walkway area in their honor. These include:

•George R. Baxmann and Warren E. Trottman, killed in World War II;

•Harry Thain, Donald Stokes and Johnny Lewis, killed in Vietnam;

•And Marcus C. Mathes, killed in Iraq.

For information, call Rod Lincoln at (813) 782-1298 or Jud Baggett at (813) 782-4830.

HELPING THE HOMELESS: At least one-third of the county's homeless are U.S. veterans, and more than half of have family members who served in the military, said Morson Livingston, a founder of St. Jude's Homeless Veterans Resource Center, based in Pasco County.

The organization is coordinating a formal flag ceremony and barbecue for veterans from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the Rotary Concourse Pavilion in celebration of Veterans Day. The pavilion is off State Road 52 near the Suncoast Parkway and Safety Town, the mock village where the Pasco County Sheriff's Office teaches elementary school children how to stay safe.

CANDLELIGHT VIGIL: Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 1003 Keith F. Perrelli will host its second Veterans Day Candlelight Vigil today at VFW Post 4412, 9734 Dick St., Hudson.

Dinner will be served at 5 p.m., and the ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m.

For information, call (727) 697-1602.

PARADE PLANNED: A Veterans Day parade will kick off activities at 2 p.m. Saturday in downtown Zephyrhills.

Hosted by Main Street Zephyrhills, the parade will be followed by the organization's popular Music and Motorcycles, to be held from 2 to 9 p.m. along Fifth Avenue.

Music and Motorcycles will feature a 12-class bike show, music, food and beverages.

The entry fee for the bike show is $10.

Registration will be held from 4 to 6 p.m.

For information, call (813) 780-1414, write to mszi@verizon.net or visit www.mainstreet zephyrhills.org.