BONHAM -- The 19th annual Regional Veterans Day Program will be held at 10 a.m. this Friday at the Bonham High School football field. The program is hosted by the VA North Texas Health Care System (VANTHCS)/Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center (SRMVC) and the City of Bonham. It is free and open to the public. All area veterans are encouraged to attend.

The program begins with a flyover from Sheppard Air Force Base (AFB), then a presentation by the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Color Guard. Also taking part in the program will be the Lone Star Chapter of the PVA Wheelchair Rifle Volley and the Bonham High School band.

Guest speaker will be Brigadier General Karen S. Rankin, USAF (Retired). Her military career includes serving as: executive assistant to the secretary of the Air Force; commander of the 3700th Technical Training Wing, Sheppard AFB, Texas; commander of the 81st Training Wing at Keesler AFB, Mississippi; and director of plans and programs at HQ Air Education and Training Command at Randolph AFB, Texas. In 2004, Rankin was appointed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to the Texas Veterans Commission and, in 2008, was designated as the commission's chairwoman.

Also making remarks will be Rep. Ralph Hall, R-Texas, a U.S. Navy veteran who served during World War II, and State Sen. Bob Deuell, named as one of Texas' "Ten Best Legislators" in 2007.

In addition to the special program, there will be a display featuring a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and a vehicle display from the Military Vehicle Preservation Association.

For more information, call 903-583-6282.