Veterans and their families throughout Chattooga County are invited to attend the annual Veterans Day Lunch on Wednesday, November 11, at the Chattooga County Memorial Home in Summerville.

The event will begin with a brief program at noon, followed by lunch and an opportunity for veterans and their families to visit with friends, share memories and reflect on their military service.

The Chattooga County Memorial Home is located at 818 Memorial Drive in Summerville.

This year’s event is sponsored by VFW Post 6688 and its Auxiliary, United Community Bank, Tractor Supply and numerous community volunteers.

The Veterans Day Lunch has a history dating back nearly 20 years, when local supporters began organizing an annual gathering to honor Chattooga County’s World War II veterans.

The original World War II Veterans Reunion was held at the Gore Gym, where Jim Hunter and Harold Gordon prepared a fish fry, volunteers provided desserts, and local school students assisted with the program and interviewed veterans about their experiences.

As the years passed, organizers expanded the Veterans Day Lunch to recognize veterans from all branches of military service and all generations. Separate World War II commemorations were held around D-Day on June 6 and Pearl Harbor Day on December 7.

Organizers say there are sadly no longer any surviving World War II veterans in Chattooga County, making the tradition of honoring their service and preserving their memories especially meaningful.

Over the years, the Veterans Day Lunch has been held at the Civic Center and the Chattooga County Courthouse before moving to its current location at the Chattooga County Memorial Home, which houses local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion organizations.

Local volunteers hope the annual gathering will continue for generations as a way of recognizing the sacrifices made by veterans and their families in service to the country.

All veterans and their families are encouraged to attend the November 11 event.

Anyone interested in volunteering or seeking additional information may contact Barbara Reece at 706-857-8478 or Odell Anderson at 706-397-2394.