The Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club, Southport Central School, Boothbay Region Garden Club, Southport Memorial Library, American Legion Post 54 in Wiscasset and the town of Woolwich are honoring our military veterans with ceremonies on or before Veterans Day 2019 on Monday, Nov. 11. Check our pages and websites for information on these worthy events.

Memorial Day ceremonies seem to draw more attention than Veterans Day events, but that doesn’t have to be. Even if you don’t attend one of the aforementioned events, be sure to thank at least one veteran for his or her service this week.

Personally, my grandfather, three uncles, my father-in-law, two brothers-in-law, three cousins and many friends have served in the military and done their duty to protect our freedom. Thanks go out to them.

American Legion Post 36 continually works to help and honor veterans, as evidenced by their weekly column and articles on such programs as Honor Flight Maine. A Boothbay group is looking to erect a veterans’ memorial somewhere in the town. Pemaquid Chapter DAR is focusing on homeless veterans, and many individuals do a lot to honor our veterans, including Sarah Sherman, who has spent countless hours researching and interviewing for the books she’s written about our local veterans.

We wouldn’t have the freedoms that we enjoy if it wasn’t for those who served, both in war and peace times, in our military branches.

Be sure to thank a veteran this week as we should all recognize Veterans Day.

This column has been updated from its original posting.