Bloomington ready to celebrate Veterans Day

Many people have a stake in the significance of this Saturday.\nThere is the great-great-grandfather who fought in World War II, the grandfather who served in Vietnam, the 30-year-old mother of two who is leaving for Afghanistan, the 20-year-old cadet, the 18-year-old who is enlisting out of high school -- and there's the younger generation that looks up to them all.\nThese people are just a small portion of the multitude of others affected by Veterans Day. Saturday marks the 88th Veterans Day, bringing with it many events for veterans of the Bloomington community and their families.\n"You can reflect on this great country and the life we live in your own way thanks to those who have fought the numerous battles," Jenny Tracy, customer relations manager at the Monroe County Fair Board, said. "(Veterans Day) is a day when we are all just the same proud Americans."\nThe Monroe County Fair Board plans to have a day of celebration and honor to recognize the U.S. military and veterans and their families for their service Saturday, naming the day Operation Military Appreciation Day. \nVeterans Day will have a pronounced impact on the Bloomington community, as there are many soldiers from the area deployed, Tracy said. \n"On a regular basis our military is helping support our right to freedom," Tracy said. "Whether it be helping with Katrina relief projects, homeland defense at the nearby chemical plant, training Iraqi police or training up for the next deployment or directing traffic ... (soldiers) play an important role in our American way of life."\nThe public is invited for the day's opening ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. at the Monroe County Courthouse in downtown Bloomington. Wreaths will adorn a memorial, and a reading of the names of those veterans who have died in the past year will take place, along with the ringing of the bell of honor, an honor guard gun salute, taps and a closing prayer.\nThe opening ceremony will be followed by lunch at various veterans' clubs and a carnival at Monroe County Fairgrounds on West Airport Raod with bike decorating, registration for a one-mile Warriors Walk and other festivities. These activities will lead up to a closing memorial ceremony at the fairgrounds Saturday night.\n"There are many times families get together to celebrate holidays or special occasions," Tracy said. "This one is slightly different: There is no big meal, there are no cake and gifts, there is no anticipation of a visit from a special character."\nInstead, the event creates awareness and reverence of those who served, and continue to serve, the country. \n"I would expect that anyone who has a yellow ribbon or 'Support Our Troops' magnet would be there," Tracy said. "Their support matters. I have heard that 100 times from our soldiers -- it makes a difference to know Bloomington cares"