Stanislaus County veterans are invited to come together for a dinner and celebration in their honor at the second annual Military Veterans' Ball.

Turlock High’s Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) unit is hosting the event and is honoring every branch of the military including the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and Navy.

“The event allows our Navy JRTOC cadets to actually break bread with warriors—as I like to call the veterans,” said Kelly Cross, senior naval science instructor. “They can find out more things about what they did in the service and what they’re doing with their lives now.”

Cross is a retired Major from the Marine Corp and runs the NJROTC program at Turlock High alongside Lieutenant Commander Carlos Montanez. Turlock High has 140 cadets in the leadership program.

The cadets hosted 225 veterans at last year's event and they are hoping to honor 300-350 veterans this year. Mayor Gary Soiseth will be a guest speaker at the event.

The NJROTC has been working with local veteran organizations and businesses throughout the community to help sponsor the event, which is free for all veterans.

“We want to honor all veterans that have come before us and served in the military and for the freedom of this country,” said Cross.

The Military Veterans' Ball will be held at the Turlock War Memorial at 5 p.m. Nov. 7 and semiformal attire or military dress is encouraged.

If you are a veteran or would like to invite and celebrate a veteran that you care about, contact Cross at 664-9462 to reserve your tickets by Oct. 23.

For more information visit, turlockhigh.wix.com/turlockhighnjrotc.