Next Monday, November 11 Clinton Countians will celebrate the men and women who give us the blessing of our freedom. Veterans’ Day is celebrated in many ways, but this year the Clinton County Public Library will be celebrating with a presentation that is very unique and of particular interest to Clinton County.

On Tuesday, November 12 at the Clinton County Library, beginning at 5:15 p.m., World War II will come to life.

In a Veterans’ Remembrance program, the library will host Hugh Ridenour, who will present a unique narrative of Clinton County’s own World War II hero, Murl Conner.

Those attending will hear the story of Conner’s heroism as a member of the Third Infantry Division which fought in North Africa Sicily, Italy, and France.

Conner earned the Distinguished Service Cross, four Silver Stars, French Croix de Guerre, Bronze Star, and seven Purple Hearts. He was in battle continuously for over two years. During this time, Conner was wounded many times over, but always returned to battle as soon as possible.

In recent years a campaign has been on-going to have Conner posthumously awarded the nation’s highest military medal, the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Clinton Countians know Conner’s name well, as well as the names of his family who live and work and support Albany to this day. His extraordinary service record has been written about multiple times, telling of a man who stood up during fire fights instead of crawling toward his enemy because he could get a better look at where the enemy was shooting from; the man who scouted alone for the security of his men; the man who unreeled a spool of telephone wire, maneuvering through shells exploding only 25 yards from him, to set up an observation post where he stayed for more than three hours during the intense fighting; and the man who was individually credited with stopping more than 150 Germans, demolishing the tanks and disintegrating the strong enemy assault force, while at the same time preventing catastrophic loss of life in his own outfit.

The Veterans’ Remembrance program is free to the public. Don’t miss this extraordinary presentation of the life of Clinton County’s own Lt. G. Murl Conner, 5:15 p.m., Tuesday, November 12 at the Clinton County Public Library.

Several additional Veteran’s Day ceremonies are planned for the area as well, including a Friday event at Clinton County High School hosted by the J.R.O.T.C. that gets underway at 1:15 p.m.

An additional celebration service is also scheduled to be held at the Somerset Community College Clinton Center on Monday, Nov ember 11, beginning at 11:00 a.m.