Two days packed full of Veterans Day celebrations begin today.

A wreath-laying ceremony is set for 11 this morning at the Municipal Rose Garden at Monroe and Crawford streets, said Charles Scott, vice commander of American Legion Tyner-Ford Post No. 213.

The ceremony is always at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, in honor of the end of World War I in 1911, and formerly was known as Armistice Day.

This year, the program falls in the middle of many church services, but Scott said he expects a large crowd.

“We have had it on Sunday before and had a good turnout,” Scott said

The ceremony will feature a presentation by the Vicksburg and Warren Central high school JROTC members.

The master of ceremonies will be retired Col. Bennie Terrell. Jim Bryant will recite “In Flanders Field,” a poem that pays tribute to World War I soldiers.

This year’s guest speaker will be Dorwin T. Shields Sr., who was on active duty in Germany during the Vietnam war, Scott said.

“He’s a great speaker. He spoke at our American Legion birthday program,” Scott said.

Monday events are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Vicksburg Convention Center, 1600 Mulberry St., said convention center special events coordinator Sue Bagby.

A parade is set to begin at 10 a.m. at Belmont Street and march through downtown along Washington to Jackson Street.

Displays about military history and native American contributions to the U.S. military will be on display inside the convention center along with informational booths targeted at veterans.

At noon, retired Brig. Gen. Robert Crear will be the guest speaker at a lunch for veterans. A native of Vicksburg and a graduate of Jackson State University, Crear was U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi Valley Division commander from June 2004 to February 2008. He retired in March 2008 after more than 32 years in the Army.

During his command of the Mississippi Valley Division, Crear also commanded the Corps’ Task Force Hope, which supported the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hurricane Katrina response.