Veterans Day, the national thanks to the women and men who have served honorably in the military, will be observed at several area events. Among them:

-The annual Veterans Day parade in Rapid City begins at 11:01 a.m. The parade starts at Fourth and Main streets, marches to Seventh Street, turns to St. Joseph Street, and returns to Second Street near the Pennington County Courthouse. After the parade, lunch will be available and a short program will be presented at VFW Post 1273, 420 Main St.

-9 a.m., Belle Fourche High School program at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center, featuring naming of the "Veteran of the Year."

- 9 a.m., Oelrichs School program featuring guest speaker Deb Eiring of the Hot Springs Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a 10:30 a.m. free concert featuring the Sioux Falls Jazz & Blues Society.

- 10 a.m., Hot Springs schools program in Case Auditorium, featuring Maj. Gen. Roger Burg, "The Star Spangled Banner" by the Les Chanteurs, "American Anthem" by the all-school choir, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" by members of the all-state choir, and Hot Springs Elementary & Bethesda Lutheran school choirs.

- 1 p.m., dedication of the Veterans Memorial at Smithwick Cemetery, led by Hot Springs Elks Lodge 1751.

- 2 p.m., Belle Fourche Middle School program in the school gym honoring the 1,700 veterans from the Tri-State Area and support to the military by the USO.

-2 p.m., Custer High School will conduct its 14th annual veterans appreciation program at the Custer Armory.

- 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., open house at Michael J. Fitzmaurice South Dakota Veterans Home, Hot Springs.

- 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Hot Springs American Legion Auxiliary turkey dinner.

Veterans Day originated as "Armistice Day" on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day.