Lowcountry Veterans Day calendar

2009 Veterans Day events and remembrances:

WEDNESDAY

NORTH CHARLESTON: The city will hold its eighth annual "Tribute to our Veterans" event at the Greater Charleston Naval Base Memorial at Riverfront Park from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

All veterans taking part in the ceremony will receive special recognition for their service.

Guest speaker will be retired Marine Col. Robert J. Mastrion. Veterans are encouraged to RSVP to the North Charleston Parks & Recreation Department at 745-1028.

NECK AREA: A service will honor Henry Benjamin Noisette, a Navy veteran of the Civil War who escaped slavery and served aboard the USS Huron.

The ceremony will start at 11 a.m. at the cemetery he founded, Friendly Charitable Cemetery at Oceanic and Mechanic streets in Charleston. Honored guests include his great-great-grandchildren.

Sponsors and co-sponsors include the African-American Historical Alliance of South Carolina and other local historical groups. A luncheon will follow.

TRIDENT TECHNICAL COLLEGE: 10 a.m. at the Main Campus's College Center (Building 920), 7000 Rivers Ave., North Charleston. The program will include posting of the nation's colors by the Washington Light Infantry.

Guest speaker is Brig. Gen. Henry I. Siegling, commander of the Washington Light Infantry.

SUMMERVILLE: The Disabled American Veterans of Summerville is having a remembrance ceremony at 10:30 a.m. at the Veterans War Memorial on the grounds of the Dorchester County Services Building (corner of U.S. Highway 78 and Main Street). Guest speaker is former Citadel president Lt. Gen. Claudius "Bud" Watts III.

The chiming of the tolls and placing of the wreath will conclude the ceremony.

The VFW Post 3433 Ladies Auxiliary will host a reception at the VFW Post located on Bellwright Road immediately following.

--The Cypress House assisted living home at 205 Midland Parkway is having an American Legion Post Veterans Day in recognition of its veteran-residents, and a ceremony. The start time is 2 p.m.

--The Village at Summerville retirement community at 201 W. 9th North St. is hosting a "Salute to the Veterans" and is inviting veterans of all ages to attend. The event begins at 3 p.m. with a parade on the 36-acre campus. The NJROTC Color Guard from Summerville High School will lead the parade, followed by retired Lt. Gen. Colby M. Broadwater III, the former chief of staff, U.S. European Command, who will be the keynote speaker.

CHARLESTON: The nonprofit group Anchors Away is developing a program aimed at serving military veterans with disabilities. A kickoff fundraiser event will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Charleston Yacht Club. Anchors Away, established through the Medical University of South Carolina, is dedicated to getting people with disabilities out on the water. For more information, call Anthony L. Arrow at 408-3424. www.anchorsawayprogram.org.

The American Military Museum: The museum is dedicating an artist-created stained glass window pane depicting a Purple Heart medal for the museum chapel. Dedication time is 4 p.m. The event is free and there is no charge for any veteran on Veterans Day. A representative from the Purple Heart Society will give a short talk followed by the dedication.

The museum, a nonprofit, sponsored by a group of veterans, is at 360 Concord St., Charleston, adjacent to the S.C. Aquarium and the Fort Sumter Visitor's Center.

PATRIOTS POINT: The state commander of the Swamp Fox chapter of WWII Submarine Veterans will dedicate a new World War II Submarine Memorial at the Cold War Submarine Memorial at 2 p.m.

FRANCIS MARION NATIONAL FOREST/SUMTER NATIONAL FOREST: Fees charged at most recreation sites and trails will be waived on Veterans Day. The forests' lands stretch across South Carolina from Walhalla to McClellanville.