Schools, churches and local groups across the county are hosting events this week to honor veterans.
Here is a look at the events coming up:
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>School programs</strong></p>
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» Creekside Elementary School, 8:30 a.m. Thursday, 700 E. State Road 144, Franklin.» Isom Elementary School, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 50 E. Broadway Drive, Greenwood. The school’s honor choir will perform. Students will read patriotic essays and the John Marshall Color Guard will come and present arms with Sgt. Rick Woodcock.
» Franklin Community Middle School, 7:30 a.m. Friday, breakfast and program, 625 Grizzly Cub Drive.
» East Side Elementary School, 9 a.m. Friday, 810 E. Main Cross St., Edinburgh.
» Webb Elementary School, 9 a.m. Friday, 1400 Webb Court, Franklin.
» Indian Creek High School, 9:30 a.m. Friday, 801 S. Indian Creek Drive, Trafalgar. Scott Kern will speak. Veterans and guests are asked to arrive between 9 and 9:15 a.m. Lunch will be served in the lobby of the Indian Creek Natatorium. Veterans must RSVP for the luncheon by contacting Indian Creek Middle School at 317-878-2130.
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Veterans organizations</strong></p>
» Greenwood VFW Post 5864 Auxiliary will serve soup and sandwiches to any veterans between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday at the post, 333 S. Washington St.» Franklin American Legion dinner, 7 p.m. Friday, 1200 Park Ave., Franklin. Sign up for the dinner at the American Legion.
» The Greenwood VFW Post No. 5864 will conduct its annual poppy drive starting at 9 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers will be at a dozen locations around the county selling the flower that is associated with honoring veterans. They will be sold at grocery stores, including Walmart and Kroger locations in the northern part of Johnson County and at Rural King in Greenwood and on the southside. Volunteers will also be at O’Malia’s, Sam’s Club, Marsh and Golden Corral in Greenwood. All of the proceeds from the sales go to the post’s relief fund to help veterans.
» A free lunch will be provided for veterans and their families at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, American Legion Post 252, 334 U.S. 31, Greenwood.
<p style="text-align: left"><strong>Church programs</strong></p>
» Dinner for veterans and their families, 5 p.m. Sunday, Christ Our Shepherd Church of the Brethren, 857 N. State Road 135, Greenwood. Program will start after dinner.» Josh Bleill will speak at 6 p.m. Sunday at Fair Haven Christian Church, 1476 W. County Road 300S, Franklin. Bleill was a young Marine corporal, on patrol near Fallujah, Iraq, when his vehicle struck an IED. The explosion killed two Marines and severely injured him and his best friend. He awoke five days later to find out that both of his legs were gone.