Johnson County’s 2023 Veterans Day Observance, set for Friday, Nov. 10, will honor military veterans in our community.

This year’s event will take place at the Lenexa National Guard Armory, 18200 West 87th Street Pkwy., located just west of Renner Road.

The event begins at 11 a.m. and recognizes veterans from all Armed Forces for their military service. It’s open for the public to attend and will also be livestreamed on Johnson County’s Facebook page or online at jocogov.org/JoCoHonorsVets.

Mike Kelly, chairman of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners, will emcee the program, which will include:

• Patriotic music by the Olathe Northwest High School band and special songs by the Mill Creek Elementary School choir in Lenexa.
• Presentation of colors and placement of memorial wreaths by local veteran organizations.
• Playing of “Taps” and a traditional rifle salute.

Brigadier General Anthony Mohatt will be the featured speaker at the event. A veteran of the Iraq War, he has served as commander of the Kansas Army National Guard and assistant adjutant general (Army) since 2016 in a military career spanning 33 years.

Johnson County’s annual Veterans Day Observance began in 1987 with public services on the south steps of the old Johnson County Courthouse in downtown Olathe. It then moved to the Kansas National Armory in west Olathe from 1995 to 2006.

Since 2007, the county event has occurred at locations throughout Johnson County, including the cities of Olathe, Lenexa, Overland Park, Merriam, Gardner and the New Century AirCenter.

For more information about this year’s event, contact the Johnson County Manager’s Office at 913-715-0725. You can find more details on our event webpage.