If you love freedom, thank a vet. That’s a cliché, but there’s truth to it. And today – November 11, Veterans Day – is the perfect day to offer that thanks.

So, I’ll say thank you to my father and my father-in-law, both of whom served in the Marine Corps. I understand that my old man was quite a shot back in the day – but he was an even better typist.

You may offer your gratitude during a ceremony from 10:55 to noon today at the Northern California Veterans Cemetery, located on Gas Point Road, about one-half mile south of Clear Creek Road, in Igo. The event falls on the fifth anniversary of the veterans cemetery dedication, and the ceremony will include a formal presentation of colors, a flyover and lots of patriotic music.

Across town, Shasta College will mark veterans day with a 1 p.m. ceremony at the veterans grove, adjacent to the campus quad. Shasta College Veterans Certifying Official Julie Reynolds will preside and the college’s chamber choir and talented musicians will be featured performers.

On Friday, the Cascade Theatre in downtown Redding is scheduled to host a benefit for the veterans cemetery chapel. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for a reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and wines from Inwood’s Anselmo Vineyards, as well as a silent auction. The reception will be followed by a showing of the movie “Taking Chance,” in which Kevin Bacon plays a lieutenant colonel who escorts the remains of a 19-year-old Marine killed in action in Iraq back to the fallen young man’s home town. Tickets for the event are $20.

On Saturday, the Cascade will screen “Restrepo,” a documentary of the Army 173 Airborne Brigade’s experience in Afghanistan’s extremely unstable Korengal Valley. The film won the grand jury prize for best documentary at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Among the soldiers featured in the movie is Sgt. Tad Donoho, an Enterprise High School graduate. Donoho is expected to be at the Cascade on Saturday evening. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the film begins at 7:30. Tickets are $12.

Also scheduled for Saturday, is a memorial ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Grove in front of the Redding Convention Center. After the short ceremony, the Redding Patriot Guard will lead a motorcade to the Cascade.

Paul Shigley is senior editor of California Planning & Development Report, a frequent contributor to Planning magazine and co-author of Guide to California Planning, a reference book and college text. He lives in Centerville. Paul Shigley may be reached at pauls.anewscafe@gmail.com.

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