Veterans Day is this Wednesday, November 11 — a work holiday for many. Taking the kids to Red Rock for an outing is a nice idea (and it’s fee-free for the holiday), but if you want to stay true to the spirit of the day, you’ll join the Vegas Hikers Meetup group at 10 a.m. for its Veterans Day Hoover Dam Scenic Hike. This modified version of the Historic Railroad Trail hike will stop by the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge overlook and end with lunch at a Henderson Applebee’s, where U.S. military vets eat for free in honor of the holiday. Details and sign-up are at the Meetup page.
Perhaps hiking is too ho-hum for your Border Collie metabolism. In that case, you can join the Las Vegas National Veterans Day Run at Equestrian Park and Trailhead in Henderson. The event features a variety of distances, from 11 kilometers to 1 mile, and those who finish 11k and 5k runs receive commemorative medals. Veterans receive registration discounts, and proceeds from the race go to military charities. Runs begin at 9:11 a.m. Register and get information at the race website.
For a more festive challenge, join veterans sports and fitness nonprofit Team RWB for its Veterans Day Strip Run/Walk, from the Cosmopolitan to the Las Vegas sign and back — approximately four miles. All are welcome, including kids and dogs, and a group photo at 8:30 a.m. will commemorate the event. Get details on Team RWB Las Vegas’ Facebook page.
Late sleepers may prefer to lounge in the sun, wave the flag and cheer for those who’ve served, at the Las Vegas Veterans Parade, beginning at 10 a.m. The main route runs north on Fourth Street between Coolidge and Stewart avenues, with the reviewing stand at Ogden Avenue. Henderson, meanwhile, holds its municipal event, also at 10 a.m., at the Henderson Events Plaza Ampitheater on Water Street. The Basic High School Marine Corps JROTC will perform, and 13 Henderson veterans will have their names added to the town’s memorial wall.
At 11 a.m., Governor Brian Sandoval will be the featured guest at a groundbreaking ceremony for the Las Vegas Veterans Memorial, designed by Dutch artist Douwe Blumberg. When completed in 2016, the memorial at the Grant Sawyer Building on Washington Boulevard will include a sculpture garden and memorial walls.
Following the morning’s activities, families can celebrate veterans with cycling and wellness nonprofit Forgotten Not Gone with a barbecue fundraiser at its North Las Vegas headquarters. FNG is looking for veterans and active-duty military members to walk alongside recumbent cyclists in the Veterans Parade. The barbecue, taking place 2-6 p.m., will include a DJ, bike demos, a giant slide and raffle. See a video about the event and buy tickets at the group’s website.
Service Dogs for Service Members is also holding a barbecue, this one from noon to 2 p.m. at Centennial Hills Park on Buffalo Drive. Congressman Cresent Hardy, Lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison and other dignitaries will be there, and attendees can listen to live folk music, get their faces painted and enjoy eats from the Road Kill Grill. All proceeds from the event will fund rescue dog adoptions, vaccinations and training.
Veterans and active-duty military members who are in the mood for frivolity can get free tickets to the Mac King Comedy Magic Show at Harrah’s Las Vegas from November 10-14. King says it’s his way of saying thank you to service members for all that they do. For tickets, call 855-234-7469 or visit www.harrahslasvegas.com.
Veterans themselves can enjoy some public perks on Wednesday. From 8 a.m. to noon, retired veterans are invited to eat breakfast free at the Gritz Café on Stella Lake Street, compliments of Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly. And the RTC will provide free bus rides all day Wednesday for both retired and active military members from any state.
