The American Legion Post 210 and VFW Post 2657 will be celebrating U.S. service men and women with the help of a local airman.
South Callaway graduate and Air Force Col. Gerald "Jed" R. McCray will be the guest of honor at the American Legion and VFW's 95th annual Veterans Banquet, held 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11.
Tickets for the meal are $10 and will give members of the community a chance to hear from and celebrate local members of the military.
American Legion Commander David Beaver said that he came to know of McCray through his wife, Dot, walking their children home from school at Bush Elementary - where Beaver is a crossing guard - while McCray was deployed.
"We asked if he'd do it when he got back, he was happy to do it and we're happy to have him," Beaver said. "Growing up he went to South Callaway, so that's a small school to become a colonel."
McCray is the commander of the 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group, where he serves a 3,300-person team that oversees depot repair, modification and overhaul of a number of aircraft.