Attending solemn ceremonies at a cemetery filled with heroes is one way to celebrate Veterans Day today.

But in and around Casper, there are other ways as well - swimming at the brand-new Aquatics Center, visiting with junior high school students, singing patriotic songs over lunch and dancing to big band sounds.

*At Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery in Evansville, the annual ceremony starts at 11 a.m. United States Sen. Craig Thomas is the keynote speaker.

"We are proud to pay homage to our fallen comrades as well as those that are still serving and have served in the Armed Forces of our great country," said Burt Widmer, Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery director.

The public is welcome at the outdoor ceremony on the cemetery grounds. To get to the cemetery, take Curtis Street north through Evansville and follow the signs.

*At Centennial Junior High School, the annual Veterans Day Assembly is at 8:45 a.m. in the gymnasium.

All veterans are invited to attend the assembly. They also are invited to an early morning coffee before the assembly, from 8-8:40 a.m. The coffee will be for veterans and their spouses and will be held in the library.

The events are sponsored by the music department, the WINGS E-core team, student mentors and the school staff.

*Once again, Garden Square Assisted Living, 1950 S. Beverly, will host an indoor Veterans Day celebration for all veterans, families and friends. The public is invited at 2 p.m.

*At the Casper Senior Center, veteran Forrest Leff will lead a veterans program from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., as lunch is being served. Patriotic music and songs are planned and the public is welcome.

*A Veterans Swim for all veterans will be held at the Casper Aquatics Center from 3 to 4:15 p.m. today. Admission is free but wristbands are required for entrance.

*On Saturday, the first-ever Casper College Big Band Dinner Dance in the Grand Ballroom of the Parkway Plaza Hotel will honor World War II veteran and Bataan Death March survivor Leonard L. Robinson of Casper.

He will be presented with a flag from U.S. Rep. Barbara Cubin that flew over the Capitol the day the World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C. A color guard will perform a short ceremony.

Robinson was in the first group captured at Cabcabin in the Philippines and began the death march. He was sent to Japan in September 1943, spent almost two years in slave labor at Niigata and was liberated Sept. 5, 1945.

He finished his degree in architectural engineering at the University of Colorado before entering the seminary and has lived in Casper since 1973.

Music for Saturday evening is provided by Casper College music students, under the direction of Robert Kleinschmidt. Last year's dance at Casper College was such a huge success that a different venue and dinner have been added this year.

A buffet dinner featuring roast turkey with apricot glaze and carved roast baron of beef will begin at 6 p.m. A cash bar will also be available. Dancing will begin following the dinner.

*Casper resident Anastasia Sarbach reminds readers that all Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine personnel - active duty, Reserve or veteran - are eligible to be enrolled on the United States Navy Memorial's Navy Log. Their names, duty stations, promotions and other achievements remain on permanent record for generations to come.

To enroll someone, contact the Navy Log Department online at www.lonesailor.org or write U.S. Navy Memorial Log Department W, 701 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Ste. 123, Washington, D.C., 2004-2608 or call the navy Log Department at (800) 821-8892, ext. 730.

Casper Inside editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at (307) 266-0532 or sallyann.shurmur@casperstartribune.net.