Johnson County’s 2022 Veterans Day Observance is scheduled Friday, Nov. 11, at the Lenexa National Guard Armory, 18200 West 87th Street Parkway, located just west of Renner Road.

The event starts at 11 a.m. and honors all veterans from all Armed Forces for their military service. It signals the return of a public in-person celebration after three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic with virtual observances in 2020 and 2021. The event will also be livestreamed on Johnson County's Facebook page at facebook.com/jocogov and online at jocogov.org/JoCoHonorsVets.

Our featured speaker will be retired Kansas Army National Major General Lloyd Krase, a native Kansan now residing in Lenexa. During his 41 years of service, he led and commanded infantry units at squad, platoon, company, battalion, brigade and division levels, including Commander, 35th Infantry Division. He was a platoon leader in Vietnam from 1968-1969.

He retired in December 2004 and was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame in 2010.

His awards and decorations include the Army Distinguished Service Medal; Silver Star; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal for Valor with Oak Leaf Cluster; Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal with Numeral 2; Army Commendation Medal for Valor with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Army Achievement Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star; and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star.

Ed Eilert, chairman of the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners, will emcee the program, featuring:

• patriotic music by the Olathe Northwest High School band and special songs by the Sunflower Elementary School choir in Lenexa.
• presentation of colors and placement of memorial wreaths by local veteran organizations.
• playing of “Taps” and traditional rifle salute. 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 before moving 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.

More information about the 2022 Veterans Day event is available by contacting the Johnson County Manager’s Office at 913-715-0725. Final details will be posted on the county’s website by Nov. 1.