Held every year on the 11th day of November, Veteran’s Day is a time to celebrate and honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the following good.

The greater Niles area will be offering several ways to recognize our nation’s heroes this week in observance of Veteran’s Day.

• Brentwood Assisted Living, located at 1147 S. Third St. in Niles, is offering a free lunch to all veterans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11.

• All Martin’s Supermarkets, including the Niles location, will offer a free meal for all veterans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11.

• Korean War veteran Bob VandeLinde will speak at two different times and locations in Buchanan. The Silver Star recipient will speak at 7 p.m. Nov. 10 at Buchanan High School and at 11 a.m. Nov. 11 at the Buchanan American Legion Post 51, 403 E. Front St., Buchanan. Both programs are free and open to the public.

Sgt. First Class VandeLinde, a member of the 187th Airborne Infantry, earned the Silver Star in action while serving with Company K, 3d Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, near Sukchon, Korea, while leading an eight-man forward outpost and protecting his company from a surprise attack. He did not receive his Silver Star until 2011, more than 60 years after the battle where he was wounded and saved his fellow soldiers. The program is being put on by Buchanan American Legion Post 51.

• A free veterans luncheon will take place following the VandeLinde program at roughly 12:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Buchanan Area Senior Center, 810 Rynearson St., Buchanan.

• Ring Lardner Middle School will be hosting Veteran speakers at the school on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. The speakers will be sharing their military experiences and life stories in the program to honor veterans before Veterans Day on Nov. 11. A luncheon will follow the program. All veterans will be speaking with history classes in several rooms of the building.