Veterans honored across the state today

From tiny towns to the biggest city in the state, this is a day for remembering and honoring those who’ve fought for the freedoms we all enjoy. The state’s largest Veterans Day ceremony is being held this morning in Des Moines.Michelle Pappaducas is marketing director for Veterans Memorial Auditorium. In addition to speeches by Governor Vilsack and the Air Guard colonel, Pappaducas says the service will be well-attended by veterans from all across the Hawkeye State — and some students.This ceremony, like most, is scheduled for 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month. It was at that same time and on that day the Armistice was signed in 1918, ending World War One. Given the name of the auditorium where today’s event is being held, Pappaducas says this day has special meaning.Veterans Memorial Auditorium was built largely by central Iowa men who’d returned from service during World War Two and found many of their jobs had disappeared. This project put them to work. When it opened in 1954, Vets was the third largest auditorium in the U-S.