Veterans Day service to honor local heroes Nov. 11 in New Philadelphia

The 2025 Veterans Day service, honoring all Americans who have honorably served in the U.S. Armed Forces, will be held Tuesday, Nov. 11, beginning at 11 a.m. on Court House Square in downtown New Philadelphia.

The service will include performances by New Philadelphia student musicians and vocalists. The program will close with the traditional rendering of volleys and taps, with the New Philadelphia VFW Post 1445 Military Honors Team performing the volleys and buglers from the NPHS Marching Quaker Band sounding taps.

The guest speaker for the 2025 Veterans Day service is Jason E. Thornton, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who retired after 20 years of service as a chief warrant officer 3. A veteran of the Iraq War, Thornton continues to serve veterans as a Tuscarawas County Veterans Service officer. He was recently named the new director of the Tuscarawas County Veterans Service Office, succeeding Debra Cook upon her retirement in January.

In his free time, Thornton supports veterans through Combat Warrior Outdoors, a charity he founded to help veterans with their physical and mental well-being through outdoor wilderness activities. A Gnadenhutten native and 1993 graduate of Indian Valley High School, Thornton and his wife, Sabrina, live in Tuscarawas.

In case of inclement weather, the service will move indoors to the VFW Banquet Hall at VFW Post 1445, 441 Park Ave. NW, New Philadelphia. A decision will be made by 9 a.m. on Veterans Day.

Following the service, the public is invited to the New Philadelphia VFW Post 1445 Canteen for the traditional ham and bean soup luncheon. All are welcome.