Several events in Austin Wednesday will honor area veterans.

A formal Veterans Memorial Groundbreaking takes place at 11 a.m. Wednesday.

The Mower County Veterans War Memorial Committee will soon replace the fountain with a statue and add bricks commemorating individual veterans — the first substantial renovation to the memorial since its 1992 dedication.

The bronze statue will depict an injured soldier being helped by another. It was part of original plans for the memorial, though it was never completed.

Groundbreaking programs include the National Anthem by Angie McDermott Himebaugh of the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau and former Miss Minnesota; Decorated veteran Norm Hecimovich leads a Veterans Day talk and explains the project; and the Veterans Memorial Committee is introduced.

Austin Public Schools invites veterans to breakfast and programs during the morning.

7 a.m. — Austin High School Student Council meets veterans around the flagpole followed by breakfast in the cafeteria.

7:40 a.m. — Elementary schools serve breakfast to veterans and students.

7:40 a.m. — Ellis Middle School serves breakfast to veterans and students.

8 a.m. — Ellis Middle School’s Veterans Day program.

Veterans may register to attend by calling the school of choice:

Banfield, 460-1200

Neveln, 460-1600

Southgate, 460-1300

Sumner, 460-1100

Ellis, 460-1500

AHS, 433-0400

Hy-Vee offers free breakfast to all veterans from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. The buffet is complimentary for veterans and open to others at a small cost.