Paramount Hosts Fourth Annual Veterans Day Movie Event

The Anderson theater honored local veterans before screening the film Old Heart, a story about a World War II veteran.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Awards

Gouache-painted editorial illustration of a white-draped round table with a single red rose and an empty chair, lit by warm doorway light, honoring veterans. — Paramount Theatre in Anderson honored local veterans on Wednesday at its fourth annual Veterans Day event before screening the 2025 film Old Heart. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Paramount Theatre hosted its fourth annual Veterans Day movie event in downtown Anderson on Wednesday, opening with a ceremony honoring local veterans. The program was followed by a screening of the 2025 film Old Heart.

Why it matters

The event recognizes service members and veteran organizations in Anderson and Madison County, giving residents a shared occasion to honor those who served. Organizers said they hope to hold the event annually.

The ceremony recognized five veteran and civic groups, including American Legion Post 127 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 12. Attendance and the number of individual veterans honored were not specified in the program details.

The players

Paramount Theatre

A historic Anderson, Indiana venue that hosts films and community events, including its annual Veterans Day program.

Kikthawenund Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution

A local chapter of the national DAR organization that honors veterans and presented a certificate to Donnie Holland at the ceremony.

American Legion Post 127

A local post of The American Legion, the nationwide veterans service organization, recognized at the Anderson ceremony.

The details

The ceremony included a Missing Man Table, a tribute involving a round table covered with a white cloth, a rose, a Bible and an empty chair that acknowledges those missing or captured in the line of duty. The Kikthawenund Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution awarded a certificate to Donnie Holland, a former sergeant and patrol leader, for his valor, service and sacrifice during the Vietnam War. The Paramount program also acknowledged the Indiana Rangers Company D 151st Infantry Regiment, which received the Presidential Unit Citation in August.

1968 to 1969: Indiana Rangers Company D 151st Infantry Regiment serves in the Vietnam War, the period recognized at the event.
August: The regiment receives the Presidential Unit Citation.
Wednesday: The Paramount Theatre holds its fourth annual Veterans Day movie event.

Culture Shift

The event pairs a traditional Missing Man Table tribute with a film screening, reflecting a broader pattern of community institutions using cultural programming to mark Veterans Day. Local theaters and schools increasingly draw veterans into public events rather than confining observances to ceremonies alone.

Anderson residents can attend future Paramount Theatre veterans events, as organizers plan to hold the program annually. The ceremony also offers an occasion for families to learn about local veteran organizations such as American Legion Post 127 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 12.

The takeaway

Community observances that combine formal tributes with shared public programming can make veterans' service more visible to the people around them. Residents who want to honor local veterans can look to organizations such as the Veterans of Madison County for opportunities to take part.