Veterans Day falls on Wednesday this year, and South Sound residents will have multiple opportunities to honor veteran service members.

In addition to the public events listed here, Fort Lewis troops will participate in nearly 60 Veterans Day events around the region, from schools to retirement homes.

Other ceremonies and events:

Monday

Lakewood: Clover Park Technical College will host a ceremony at 11 a.m. at the McGavick Student Center, 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Building 23. Retired Maj. Gen. John Hemphill will speak. State Veterans Affairs Director John Lee will discuss a new partnership between his department, the Washington National Guard and Clover Park college.

Lakewood: All military veterans and friends are invited to attend the city’s 2009 Veterans Recognition Event at the start of the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main St. S.W.

After special music and proclamations, Lt. Col. Danny Dudek of the Fort Lewis Warrior Transition Battalion will give an overview of efforts to rehabilitate injured soldiers and return them to duty. The program also will include a video message from Iraq courtesy of Col. John Norris, commander of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis. A short video saluting veterans will complete the program.

Wednesday

Vaughn: Key Peninsula Veterans will display service flags all day at the Vaughn Bay Cemetery at the corner of 100th Street KPN and 186th Avenue KPN.

Seattle: The University of Washington will dedicate a memorial to Medal of Honor recipients who attended the school, including former Tacoma resident Gregory “Pappy” Boyington. The main address will be delivered by Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, who is the Army’s vice chief of staff and a UW alumnus. A parade begins at 10 a.m., and the dedication ceremony at the flagpole end of Memorial Way begins at 10:30 a.m.

Olympia: The Evergreen State College will host an event at the Longhouse Education and Cultural Center, 2700 Evergreen Parkway N.W. Steven Gill, the program manager at the State Department of Veterans Affairs, will deliver the keynote address. The event begins at 10:30 a.m.

Kent: Steve Muro, the acting undersecretary for memorial affairs for the State Department of Veterans Affairs, will deliver the keynote speech at the Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th St., Kent. The event begins at 11 a.m.

Spanaway: Samurai’s Japanese Steakhouse, 19321 Mountain Highway E., plans to serve 1,000 free buffet-style lunches to retired and active-duty soldiers, police and firefighters, as well as family members, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. No reservations needed. For more information, call 253-846-5557.

Tacoma: The Tacoma Historical Society will host a ceremony at 2 p.m. at War Memorial Park at the corner of Sixth Avenue and MacArthur Street. Retired Col. Isabelle J. Swartz will speak. The I Corps Honor Guard will perform.

Orting: The Washington Soldiers Home will host a program beginning at 2 p.m.

Tacoma: The Elks Lodge at 1965 S. Union will host John Oldham, who will speak about his experience in the Marines and serving during the Vietnam War. The I Corps Honor Guard will perform. The event begins at 7 p.m.