Residents will gather at the Alpine Tabernacle on Main Street in American Fork at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 for a Veterans Day program, according to an Oct. 14 report. The free, hourlong event is designed to honor service, remembrance, and gratitude for those who served in the nation’s armed forces.
Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jefferson S. Burton will deliver the keynote address for the program. This year's theme, "Defending Freedom for 250 Years," connects military service with the approaching 250th anniversary of the United States. Burton retired from the Utah National Guard in 2019 after 37 years of service, including seven years as Utah’s adjutant general.
Music will be provided by the Timpanogos Chorale under the direction of Andrew Wheelwright. The group is scheduled to perform the national anthem, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," and an Armed Forces Medley that includes the official songs of all military branches, including the U.S. Space Force.
The ceremony will include an honor roll recognizing more than 30 military veterans buried in the American Fork Cemetery. This segment is intended to connect veterans' service to local history.
Fifth-grade classes from the five elementary schools in American Fork have been invited to attend the program. Organizers coordinated with school principals and teachers to facilitate attendance, noting that the ceremony serves as a timely extension of U.S. history studies for the students.
Program committee member Kevin Barnes stated the ceremony is intended to honor all veterans regardless of their military branch, era, or assignment. He noted that the entire public is invited to attend, whether they have served in the military or not.
Veterans Day is observed annually on Nov. 11, a date chosen because an armistice ending World War I took effect at 11:00 on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. While initially observed as Armistice Day, Congress renamed the holiday Veterans Day in 1954 to expand its purpose to honoring veterans of all wars and periods of service.
The event will be held at the Alpine Tabernacle, which has a large parking lot available for attendees. There is no charge to attend the program.
