Several Valley observations of Veterans Day this week

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary will be selling Buddy Poppies in front of Gardnerville grocery stores 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Sunday.

According to Auxilliary Post No. 8583 Carson Valley Memorial Post President Francesca Francischine it's the group's main fundraiser for veterans and community activities.

Post members will be outside Raley's, Scolari's and Smith's stores.

Francischine said anyone interested in being an active member of the group should contact her at 783-8628.

Gardnerville and Scarselli elementary schools will host veterans at assemblies on Tuesday.

Gardnerville is inviting veterans at 9 a.m. Scarselli's event is at 10 a.m.

The Gardnerville Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8583, Carson City's American Legion Post No. 4 and the Minden-Douglas Elks Lodge No. 2670 will be placing U.S. flags on the graves of veterans in Minden, Gardnerville and Carson City in recognition of Veterans Day.

John Zemlock with the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts said Veterans Day is an opportunity to show respect and gratitude to the troops that are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and 30 countries throughout the world.

"We need to thank the veterans for their service and sacrifices," he said.

Veterans Day was created as Armistice Day after World War I to celebrate victory in World War I in 1918. Since 1954, Nov. 11 has been celebrated as Veterans Day.

On Wednesday, the Bureau of Land Management will waive recreation-related fees for veterans and military personnel, along with their families.

BLM Director Bob Abbey encouraged veterans and members of the U.S. Armed Forces to recreate on BLM-managed or other Federal lands , saying, "We want to thank the men and women who have served or are serving our country through military service. This is a small, but special way in which we can express our gratitude and our appreciation to them."

The waiver of entrance and standard amenity fees on Veterans Day applies to public recreation lands under the management of the BLM, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Reclamation (all agencies of the Department of the Interior), along with the U.S. Forest Service.