Many West Virginia communities hold ceremonies to observe Veterans Day, but Nitro stands out for holding two ceremonies — one at sunset on the evening before Veterans Day and one at sunrise on Veterans Day. Both ceremonies will be held at the Nitro Veterans Memorial at the corner of 21st Street and First Avenue (W.Va. Route 25).

“The city was born out of World War I and our state was born out of the Civil War,” Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt said. “I truly believe we need to go all out to appreciate our veterans and those who supported the serviceman on the home front.”

The Veterans Day ceremonies come as Nitro approaches this month’s anniversary of its founding in 1917 during World War I as a gunpowder manufacturing center.

The first ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, the eve of Veterans Day. It will include a flag-lowering ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at sunset. A trumpeter will play “Taps.”

The keynote speaker will be retired Maj. Gen. Allen E. Tackett. Tackett was appointed adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard on Sept. 11, 1995, and served in that capacity until November 2010. As adjutant general, he provided command guidance and vision to the West Virginia Army and Air National Guard, comprising more than 6,000 citizen soldiers and airmen.

He began his military career in the West Virginia Army National Guard as a private with the 16th Special Forces Group on Jan. 20, 1963, and attended Infantry Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry on June 27, 1967. Tackett served with the Special Forces for 25 years, culminating in his tour as battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne).

The second ceremony will begin at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. It will feature the raising of the flags at sunrise to begin Veterans Day, followed by lowering the flags to half-staff.

The public is invited to attend both ceremonies.