COLUMBUS, Ga. - The National Infantry Museum will hold its annual Veterans Day commemoration on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a bell-ringing, a paver dedication and a keynote from Army veteran Noah Galloway. The ceremony is free, parking is complimentary and museum admission is free that day, according to the museum's event page. It is one of several veterans events planned around the Chattahoochee Valley before and after the holiday.

The ceremony

The museum lists the commemoration for 11 a.m. in Cavezza Hall at 1775 Legacy Way, Columbus. WTVM's roundup of local veterans events gave the ceremony start as 10 a.m., so anyone planning to attend should confirm the time with the museum at 706-685-5800 before heading out. The museum's own page lists the ceremony at 11 a.m., which is the time used here.

A handbell will be rung eleven times, a nod to the World War I tradition marking the end of fighting at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, according to the museum. Newly installed commemorative pavers on Heritage Walk will also be dedicated during the ceremony. The pavers are custom-engraved granite tributes to veterans and service members, according to WTVM.

The museum says pavers can be purchased at any time. That means families do not have to wait for the next dedication to honor someone. Its event page does not list a price or describe how to order, so interested families should call the museum or use the paver information the museum links from its community events page.

The speaker

Noah Galloway is a U.S. Army infantry veteran, Purple Heart recipient, author and motivational speaker, according to the museum. He served with the 101st Airborne Division and lost his left arm and left leg in an improvised explosive device attack during his second deployment to Iraq, the museum says. Military.com reports the injury happened in 2005.

Galloway later competed on Season 20 of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, where he and his partner, Sharna Burgess, finished in third place, according to Military.com and published biographies. He now speaks to veterans, students and other audiences. His message is often summarized as "no excuses." Military.com and Task & Purpose have both profiled his recovery. The museum's page does not say how long he will speak or whether he will take questions.

Free film and museum hours

The museum is showing a free film, "America the Beautiful: Our Natural Wonders," narrated by Kelsey Grammer, at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. on Nov. 11, according to the museum. It adds that showtimes are subject to change. The page does not say whether the film plays in the museum's giant-screen theater.

Museum hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day, and admission is free. On regular days the museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it suggests a $5 donation per person. The museum says it is open regular hours on the holiday.

Other veterans events this week and next

The ceremony is part of a longer stretch of local events across the Columbus and Phenix City area. WTVM's list includes the following, with times as reported by the station. Event details can change, so check with each organizer.

The Columbus parade is put on by the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department and is expected to include marching bands, local leaders, JROTC units and civic groups, and WTVM says it will broadcast the entire parade. The parade lines up along Broadway. The Freedomfest meet-and-greet is with living Medal of Honor recipients at the Bottling Plant Event Center, according to WTVM.

Getting there and what to expect

The museum is at 1775 Legacy Way in Columbus, and its event page says parking is complimentary. The page does not publish special traffic or entry guidance for the holiday. Columbus city offices will be closed Wednesday for Veterans Day, according to the city, and METRA buses will not run, though the museum says it is open regular hours.

People who want to recognize a veteran can ask the museum about its Heritage Walk paver program. Anyone with questions about the ceremony can call 706-685-5800. The museum is open regular hours on the holiday. Because details such as the start time have varied between sources, a quick call before the holiday is the surest way to plan.