Local veterans will be honored at a community Veterans Day program to be held at 11 a.m., Sat. Nov. 10 at the Oak Harbor High School Performing Arts Center. The Oak Harbor Navy League and the Chamber of Commerce are coordinating the public program, which is now in its 16th year.

“We are going to have stories of World War I, World War II and the Korean War,” said Steve Bristow, president of the Navy League of Oak Harbor. “From what I hear, it’s going to be outstanding.”

The theme this year is “Stories of Our Veterans,” celebrating the 100 years since the armistice signing that marked the end of the first world war in 1918.

Bristow said they’re changing up the format from previous years.

“We think it’s going to be a very interesting and high quality departure. We think people will like it,” he said. “It will be very poignant and sentimental.

The Colors will be presented by Oak Harbor High School NJROTC and music selections will be provided by the Oak Harbor High School Wind Ensemble. There will be some handicap accessible seating available.

“Operation Gratitude” care packages will be distributed from the Chamber of Commerce as a thanks to all the veterans who attend the event.

“Its important for us to acknowledge our veterans — active, reserve, retired and so on,” event organizer Kent Peckenpaugh said. “…We highlighted just a couple, limited number of stories from veterans.”

The collected stories will be read by narrators, including Ryan McBee of VAQ-130, Jeffrey Ramsey of NIOC Whidbey, Karl Borja and Doug Langrock.

“It’s all rolled up into one big thank you,” Peckenpaugh said. “We’re really proud of our program and we hope that community will come to see their (local) Veterans Day programs. “