Martell – The American Legion Post 108 of Amador County will host a free community barbecue to honor United States armed forces veterans, set for Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11th. Chaplain Dave Smith said the Legion selected the middle of the week and the actual day of Veterans Day for the barbecue for this year’s celebration. Past American Legion Post 108 Commander Tony Zelinski said that Congressman Dan Lungren will be in attendance, and they expect members of the Amador County Board of Supervisors and local city and county government to attend. The barbecue is free, and there will be a donation jar. The bar will be open and the barbecue starts at 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 11th. Incahoots Restaurant of Plymouth will be catering, with ribs and chicken and fixings. Zelinski said despite Amador being the smallest county in the state, Amador County American Legion Post 108 boasts the third largest American Legion organization in California. He said it has 1,300 members, a high percentage of whom are also dual members of the Ione-based Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8254. Zelinski said the very active membership shows in its fundraisers, such as a breakfast hosted by Smith, which raised $1,200 for veterans and needy families. But Zelinski said the Veterans Day Barbecue is just a community meal to honor veterans, and while Memorial Day remembers the fallen soldiers, Veterans Day gives honor to those veterans who are living. A Veterans Day parade will also take place in Jackson on Main Street on November 11 at 10 am. It will include marching bands, flag ceremonies and the American Legion Riders, among other guests. Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, in commemoration of those who fought during World War I. The holiday was first established on November 11, 1919 through a proclamation signed by President Woodrow Wilson. In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas shop owner began a campaign to turn Armistice Day into a day to celebrate all veterans of all wars. With help from his congressman, a bill was passed through Congress and signed by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954 signifying this change. Later that year, a second bill was passed officially changing the name of the holiday to Veterans Day. This year, the holiday falls on a Wednesday. There are an estimated 24.9 million veterans currently living in the United States. American Legion Hall is at 12134 Airport Road in Martell, off Highway 49 at the Airport Road intersection. Story by Jim Reece and Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.