Post 11 plans Veterans Day programs for November 9, 11

The leaders of Robert Boyd Stewart American Legion Post 11 this week announced their post’s programs for the Veterans Day weekend.

Commander Rich Fink and post historian and North District Vice Commander Nicolle Laffin reported Tuesday that Post 11 will sponsor a veterans breakfast on Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Lovell Fire Hall from 8 to 10 a.m. Kristi and Tim DeFuentes will do the cooking and are organizing the event, which is for all area veterans and their families. Fink said he would love for all of the soldiers soon to be deployed to the Middle East to come to the breakfast.

On Veterans Day itself, Monday, Nov. 11, Post 11 will hold its annual program at the North Big Horn Senior Citizens Center. The Lovell High School Choir will sing the national anthem, and Post 11 will introduce senior Jarrett Allen, who attended American Legion Boys State, Wyoming High School Rodeo Queen Payton Bischoff and 2024 LHS graduate Riley Laffin, who competed successfully in the American Legion Oratory Contest, winning at the post, district and department levels to advance to the national competition.

Laffin, now a member of the Northwest College speech and debate team, will be the speaker at the November 11 program.

Master of ceremonies Fink will introduce all veterans in attendance, and honor quilts will be presented to three local veterans, with an additional quilt presented last week to Ron Ferguson at the care center in Lovell.

Taps will be played by Dale Fowler and David Peck, and the colors will be presented by Post 11 members Mike Kitchen, Tom Dillon, Tim DeFuentes and Bruce Dempster. Jim Thomas is the chaplain of Post 11.

Nicolle Laffin will pass out poppies to honor veterans.

Programs are also being planned for Veterans Day in both School District No. 1 and School District No. 2, with details to follow.