This year’s Veterans Day observance in Albert Lea will again have three aspects.

Starting at 8:10 a.m. until approximately 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, the traditional patriotic program will be held in the gymnasium at Southwest Middle School.

This year’s program at this and the other two locations in Albert Lea is being presented under the direction of Freemond Madson Post 447 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Special music for this program will be furnished by the Southwest seventh- and eighth-grade band and also by the school’s choir.

Presentation and Retiring of the National Flag will be by the Post 447 Color Guard and Leo Carey Post 56 American Legion Honor Guard under the command of Les Shaunce, past Post 56 commander.

Southwest Principal Marsha Langseth will introduce the program speaker, Jim Doty, commander of Post 447 of the VFW.

Post 447 of the VFW will also be presenting the second and third parts of this year’s traditional Veterans Day programs.

A parade will start at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday (weather permitting) and go from the Legion clubrooms on North Broadway Avenue and proceed south to the Freeborn County Government Center. The raising of the national colors, rifle salute by the honor guard and playing of taps will take place on the west side and in front of her historic county courthouse starting at 10:50 a.m.

Then the 11 a.m. program will be held indoors in the Commissioners Room on the second floor of the original courthouse. The welcome will be made by Commander Doty of VFW Post 447. Past Commander Duane Hateli of Post 447 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and recognize the nation’s MIA/POW.

The main speaker will be Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Dahlen of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, 34th Division, Minnesota National Guard, who recently returned from active duty service in Kosovo.

Music will be by the Careyaires, and opening and closing prayers will be by Dennis Smith, acting chaplain of VFW Post 447.

For the third part of the Veterans Day observance, the focus shifts to the Legion Clubrooms, 142 N. Broadway Ave., at noon. This program will again feature a welcome and comments by Commander Doty of the VFW, a speech by Sgt. 1st Class Dahlen and music by the Careyaires. The luncheon will be served by the Post 447 VFW Auxiliary. Opening and closing prayers will be by Ruby Fredrickson, chaplain of Post 447 Auxiliary. Jon Rhiger, Freeborn County Veterans Service Officer will conclude the program with a Recognition of the Colors.