Local organizations will salute Cobb active-duty military and veterans for their service to the nation on or before Veterans Day in November. Area events include a parade, flag pole dedication, free concert, free luncheons, free bridal gowns and weddings for military couples in need, 240th anniversary birthday cake for Marines and Christmas wreaths for gravesites.
Veterans Day celebration brunch by the Cobb County Republican Women's Club | 9 a.m. social, 10 a.m. brunch Oct. 31
Hilton Atlanta/Marietta Hotel and Conference Center, 500 Powder Springs St., Marietta
A remembrance ceremony will honor veterans who served our nation. Check here for the remembrance ceremony form.
Costs: $24 for members; $29 for nonmembers
Reservations: Dee Gay at 770-265-4949
Veterans salute and flag pole dedication |11 a.m. Nov. 7
DayBreak Village Senior Living, 3056 Cherokee St., Kennesaw
The Harrison High School ROTC Color Guard will present the colors and flag-raising ceremony. The event will include a free lunch.
Free lunch. 770-218-6166, ext. 246
Veterans Day concert by Cobb Wind Symphony | 3 to 5 p.m. Nov. 8
Lassiter Concert Hall, Lassiter High School, 2601 Shallowford Road, Marietta
The performance by the group of 100-plus musicians will honor veterans. Donations are welcome.
Free. CobbWindSymphony.org
240th Marine Corps birthday cake cutting | 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10
American Legion Post 294 Auxiliary Meeting Room, 3282 Florence Road, Powder Springs
Only Marines are invited to this ceremony.
Free. 770-439-0956
Brides Across America's Operation Wedding Gown | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 11
CTO Bridal Boutique, 4385 Marietta St., Powder Springs
Joining more than 60 bridal salons across the nation, the boutique will give away free gowns -- valued up to $5,000 -- to military brides. Brides are encouraged to register early. Weddings also are provided to military couples in need. Since its beginning in 2008, the nonprofit Brides Across America has donated more than 14,000 gowns and provided 20 weddings.
Donations, registration: BridesAcrossAmerica.com, ctobridals.com, 678-324-7842.
Marietta's 11th annual Veterans Day parade | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 11
Glover Park, Marietta Square, 50 N. Park Square, Marietta
The parade, themed "Never Forget," begins at Roswell Street Baptist Church, heads west on Roswell Street toward the Marietta Square and ends at Lawrence Street. This year's grand marshal and keynote speaker is Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris, commanding general of the 22nd Air Force based at Dobbins. The parade is hosted by the city of Marietta and Kiwanis Club of Marietta.
Free. Check here for more information.
Powder Springs Veterans Day ceremony | 11 a.m. Nov. 11
Powder Springs Veterans Monument, 4181 Atlanta St. in front of the library
American Legion Post 294 of Powder Springs will host the event, which includes patriotic music and a presentation of the colors. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be in the Patricia C. Vaughn Cultural Arts Center at the back of the library building at the same address. The ceremony agenda has not been finalized.
Free. 770-944-0801
Smyrna Veterans Day ceremony | 11 a.m. Nov. 11
20th Century Veterans Memorial next to City Hall, 2800 King St., Smyrna
The ceremony features keynote speaker Chief Master Sgt. Frank Millen, a Vietnam War veteran who served in the military from 1958 to 1985; a musical salute by the Campbell High School choir; an armed forces medley by the Whitefield Academy Concert Band and a post-ceremony musical offering by the Whitefield Academy Concert Band. A Smyrna resident, Millen is active with the Smyrna Veterans Committee, the Jonquil City Kiwanis and the newly formed Smyrna Arts and Cultural Council.
Check here for more details.
Kennesaw veterans luncheon | noon to 2 p.m. Nov. 11
Ben Robertson Community Center, 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw
All veterans and active-duty military are invited to attend the lunch, hosted by North Cobb American Legion Post 304 and Kennesaw city officials. More sponsors include California Dreaming Restaurant and Bar, the Run for Wounded Heroes 5K, Harry's Farmers Market, Papa John's Pizza, and Thrasher Coffee Co.
Free. Check here for more details. 770-422-9714
Acworth Veterans Day ceremony | 2 to 3 p.m. Nov. 11
Patriots Point at Cauble Park, 4425 Beach St., Acworth
The city will honor our nation's veterans at Patriots Point, home of the Veterans Memorial. There, the service flags of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard surround the American flag. A concrete dome structure is surrounded by a walkway with engraved pavers, available in two sizes for purchase.
Check here for more information. Jeff Chase at jchase@acworth.org or call 770-917-1234
Cobb Chamber of Commerce's 63rd annual ARMAC Military Appreciation luncheon | 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 16
Cobb Galleria Centre, Two Galleria Parkway, Atlanta
To honor America's men and women in uniform, U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, will be the keynote speaker. The program also will include a salute to fallen soldiers, recognition of military personnel and presentation of the 2015 USO Patriot Award.
Tickets: Tickets are $55 until Nov. 9 and $55 until Nov. 16 for a military seat donation.
ARMAC information: Elizabeth Easton at eeaston@CobbChamber.org
Sponsorship information: Tiffany Dollar Harworth at tdollar@CobbChamber.org
"Wreaths Across America" dedication ceremony | noon Dec. 12
Marietta soldiers' cemetery between Powder Springs and West Atlanta streets next to Brown Park
The Old Guard of the Gate City Guard invites the community to buy wreaths that will be laid on the graves of soldiers as a part of the nationwide "Wreaths Across America" program. Last year, more than 400 wreaths were purchased. This year, organizers have increased their goal to 1,000 wreaths at this Civil War cemetery.
$15 for each wreath. Checks should be made payable to The Old Guard of the Gate City Guard. Note "Wreaths Across America" on your check and mail to David Brannan, 4711 Misty Lake Court, Kennesaw, GA 30144. MariettaConfederateCemetery.org
