The 16th annual Veterans Appreciation Day will begin at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 14 at the American Legion in St. Ansgar. Veterans Appreciation Day is a free event, which is alcohol and smoke-free.

According to a press release, veterans, spouses and members of the public attend from northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Char’s Polka Band will play and lunch will be served by Paradise Pizza. Introductions and share-a-story begin at 10 a.m.

The master of ceremonies for the event will be Ken Borchardt of Grafton, Iowa, who is an Iraq veteran with the 1133rd Tracs Co. of Mason City. He was a truck mechanic in the National Guard and is now an over-the-road truck driver.

Veteran’s Appreciation Day is sponsored by retired SSG Phil Fleischer, not by any veterans organization.