On Veterans Day, Memorial Day and other patriotic holidays, American Legion members place flags along Three Mile Lane in McMinnville.

News-Register file photo

Local organizations plan to honor veterans and active duty military personnel with a variety of activities tied to the Veterans Day holiday.

The holiday is celebrated today. It originally was called "Armistice Day" in honor of the armistice that ended World War 1 on Nov. 11, 1918.

In 1938, Congress made Armistice Day a national holiday "dedicated to the cause of world peace."

After World War II and the Korean War, the name changed to Veterans Day. It now honors all those who have served and sacrificed for their country.

The McMinnville American Legion will host a dinner today for veterans. The meal will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Legion Hall on Atlantic Street. Veterans will be served free; there's a small charge for family members and other diners.

The Legion and other veterans' groups observe the holiday by putting out street flags on Wednesday. In addition, the holiday will be marked by a concert, programs at schools and other events, as follows:

Blood drive

The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum will host its annual Veterans Day blood drive today. The American Red Cross will be drawing blood from donors from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Aviation Museum.

According to the Red Cross, a blood transfusion is needed every two seconds for medical emergencies, natural disasters and unforeseen tragedies. The Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply, serving patients at 3,000 hospitals across the country.

To make an appointment or get more information, contact Kasey Richter at 503-434-4006 or kasey.richter@sprucegoose.org.

Patriotic music

Second Winds, McMinnville's community band, will perform a Veterans Day concert at 7 p.m. today at the McMinnville Community Center. Admission is free.

With the theme "Honoring All Who Serve," the event will honor veterans, their families and their supporters. In addition to patriotic music, the evening will include a color guard and a guest speaker - band member Jim Connelly.

Connelly, like many members of the band, is a veteran. Other band members have family members and friends who have served or are currently serving.

The concert also will serve as a collection point for items for Oregon soldiers serving in Iraq with the 41st Special Troops Battalion.

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Ken Nygren's wife and son, Karen and Eric, play in Second Winds. The son of percussionist Darlene Bratcher also serves with the battalion.

Needs include beef jerky, candy, nuts, popcorn, dried fruits, instant coffee, coffee creamer, cheese packaged in a can, tuna packaged in foil, hand sanitizer, hand warmers, magazines, CDs, books and movies.

Director Pat Lay will lead Second Winds in a program that includes "Chimes of Liberty," "This Land is Your Land," "America the Beautiful," "The Home Front, Musical Memories from World War II," "God Bless America" and "The Armed Forces Medley." Also on the program are "Fidgety Feet," which was composed in the year WWI ended; "Nettleton," an early American hymn; and "Someone to Watch Over Me," a popular song from the WWII era, featuring Duane Bond on alto sax.

Second Winds formed in 1998 with 10 musicians. It now features more than 50.

For more information, visit www.secondwinds.org.