PHOTO GALLERY + VIDEO: A salute to Veterans: Programs honor America’s heroes

Veterans and visitors to the Senior Activity Center on Wednesday sang along to the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” with the First City Singers.

It opened the annual Veterans Day program hosted by the center, along with a welcome by manager Elizabeth Andrews.

Veterans stood and were awarded with applaud while the First City Singers sang the armed service songs from each branch of the military. Retired Col. Scotty Allison, Veterans Service Officer of Beltrami County, also spoke to attendees of the program.

The Senior Activity Center’s event was one of many in the Bemidji area. Programs were also hosted at Northern Elementary School and Lincoln Elementary School on Wednesday morning.

1/5: Pictured from left to right are fifth graders Annika Nelson, Colleen Szurpicki and Ella Baumgartner singing the “Star Spangled Banner” during Northern Elementary’s Veterans Day program Wednesday morning. (Maggi Stivers | Bemidji Pioneer)

2/5: Shannon Autry receives a hug from her youngest daughter Olivia McShane-Autry, 6, who is in the first grade at Lincoln Elementary School. Autry served in the Navy for eight years located in Italy and Norfolk, Va. She and other veterans were honored in a Veterans Day program on Wednesday morning at Lincoln Elementary School. (Jillian Gandsey | Bemidji Pioneer)

3/5: Scotty Allison, Veterans Service Officer in Beltrami County, speaks during the Veterans Day program on Wednesday at the Senior Activity Center. (Jillian Gandsey | Bemidji Pioneer)

4/5: Jim Hoines, who served for 30 years in the Air National Guard in Fargo, hugs his granddaughter Libby Hillard after she gave him a flower during the Veterans Day program on Wednesday at Lincoln Elementary School. (Jillian Gandsey | Bemidji Pioneer)

5/5: Joe Day speaks during the Veterans Day program on Wednesday at Lincoln Elementary School. (Jillian Gandsey | Bemidji Pioneer)