Over a dozen local veterans will receive special recognition on Thursday and Friday at local schools, and one Vietnam War veteran will be receiving a Purple Heart Medal.

Raymondville ISD's ceremony kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Burnett Stadium, according to RHS Principal Gilbert Galvan.

"This will be preceded by a dinner for veterans and their spouses at 5 p.m.," Galvan said. "This is going to be an awesome program - I want everyone to come out for it."

Willacy County Veterans Service Officer, Hilda Small, said that Raymondville will be honoring one veteran from WWII, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Cold War.

At Lyford High School, the Veterans Day ceremony will be on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at Bulldog Stadium.

After the raising of the flag and the singing of the National Anthem, the South Texas Organized Parachutists, will skydive over Lyford.

U.S. Army veteran and retired Willacy County appraiser, Agustin "Shorty" Colchado will be honored at Lyford, along with U.S. Air Force veteran Alejandro Garza. Several other vets will also be honored at Lyford.

The keynote speaker at Lyford will be Lt. Col. Jack White Ret., of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The keynote speaker at Raymondville will be Larry Alba, the director of the new Harlingen Veterans Administration (VA) Clinic.

Small is excited about the clinic as it will give veterans a much closer place to receive medical attention.

"The new VA Clinic will be open on Nov. 19th at 8:30 a.m. for our veterans," Small said. "There will also be a ribbon cutting on Dec. 3rd."

Veterans can call 866-877- 4672 for appointments at the new Harlingen facility.

In other veterans news, the American Legion held their first district convention in 50 years in Raymondville this past weekend.

"It was awesome - I was so impressed," Small said, after she attended parts of the convention. "The organizers did a great job."

Detailed programs for Raymondville and Lyford Veterans Day programs are included in this special Chronicle/News section.