The Dexter D. Harbor American Legion Post 79 hosted its annual Veteran's Day ceremony Monday at Grant County Civic Center, honoring veterans of all foreign wars. The ceremony featured a rifle salute by the American Legion Honor Guard, the National Anthem performed by Galilea Rodriguez, and Taps performed by Lily Cowan.
Marcy Stringham, of the American Legion was one of the guest speakers, giving a history of Veterans Day.Stringham is also a veteran.
“November 11, 1918 was a day of celebration throughout the free world, a conflict without precedent was ending, an armistice stopping the Great War was signed,” Stringham said. “Advances in the use of artillery, chemical weapons and machine guns led to more than nine million military deaths and an estimated eight million civilian deaths during the war which devastated large swaths of Europe, as wells parts of the middle east, Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.”
She said World War I was referred to the War to end all wars, but the optimism was short-lived with the advent of World War II a generation later.
“The American Legion never wavered on the significance of the 1918 armistice,” she said, adding that the Legion had been advocating for Armistice Day to be observed as a national holiday since 1920.
Following WW2 and the Korean conflict, the American led an All-Veterans Day celebration in Emporia, Kansas, “Which was seen as the spark that led the movement,” Stringham said. “Therefore Emporia, Kan., is known as the founding city of Veterans Day.”
The first Veterans Day celebration took place in Emporia in 1953, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill creating a national holiday June 1, 1954 and Eisenhower officially changed Armistice Day to Veterans Day October 8, 1954.
“One responsibility all Americans should carry is the remembrance of those who have made our freedom possible,” Stringham said. “It is up to us to ensure every veteran believes his or her service to this country is respected by their fellow Americans.”
Ken Warner explained the meaning of the empty chair honoring those who were prisoners of war or are missing in action from all the wars.
“They are not with us today and their chair remains empty, but saved in the hope of their return,” Warner said. Let us remember that in their absence.”
Jessica Cross from Compass Behavioral Health discussed the various services they offer for veterans, and Nancy Borthwick ended the day with a speech thanking veterans, those in attendance and those who made the ceremony possible.
“To all who serve and have served in the United States Military,” Borthwick said. “Thank you for being brave enough to do what few can. Thank you for putting the needs of our great country above your own. Thank you for selflessly putting your lives in harms way so we can remain safe and free.
“Thank you will never be enough.”
She said those who have never served can never understand the sacrifices Veterans made.
“There are not words big enough, there is not a hug strong enough, there is not a smile wide enough,” Borthwick said. “But we can offer you is this: We see you. We recognize your humanity, you are in our thoughts, you are in our prayers and we send you love that is gentle, patient and healing.”
Students from Harvest Christian School provided special music for the ceremony.
“I want to thank the wonderful children from Harvest Christian Church for their excellent program,” Borthwick said. “They have become a new treasured tradition for us.”
The chili was cooked by the American Legion Auxiliary with beef donations from Tom and Marita Hauser and Centerfire and Cactus Feeders; Brown Dupree Oil Company donated water; Daylight Donuts donated the cinnamon rolls.
Gloria Mortensen gave the invocation and postlude, and Neb Gibbons won the motorcycle drawing, donated it back and an impromptu auction (and $1,100 winning bid) saw Ricky Rodriguez ride off with the motorcycle. Harvest Christian kindergartener MJ Marshall reached in the bin and drew the winning ticket.
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