How would you feel if at the beginning of an assembly honoring veterans you heard an announcement that “just this morning our president had signed a document to draft our young people into the armed forces”? This happened at the start of the Veterans Day program held at Cedaredge High School on Tuesday, Nov. 10.

Shock and complete silence was felt throughout the room prior to a second announcement stating that the first message was untrue, it had not happened! It did get everyone’s attention and brought even more meaning to the Veterans Day message about veterans and their service to our country.

Cedaredge Middle School joined Cedaredge High School students, teachers, veterans, family members, and friends for the assembly with Brooke Gardner as master of ceremonies. Musical numbers were provided by CHS Show Choir and CHS Jazz Band. Included were two music videos, “Ragged Old Flag” narrated by Johnny Cash and “American Soldier” sung by Toby Keith.

VFW Post 9221 sponsored the Voice of Democracy essay contest at Cedaredge High School. Winners Anthony Jump, Dessa Markley and Jheri Gates presented their entries titled “Does America Still Have Heroes?”

Guest speakers were Gary Tollefson, Commander, VFW Post 9221 and Don Craig, Past Commander, VFW Post 9221

Tollefson recognized veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, campaigns in Grenada, Cuban missile crisis, Lebanon, Panama, Libya, Somalia, Haiti, Operation Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan. As the branches of the armed forces were announced, veterans stood to standing ovations.

He said, “What you are witnessing here is the living history of our nation’s veterans from the last 65 years. Some are career military and some were drafted. Some served 20 years and some two years. These men and women served in every way possible from mail clerks, truck drivers and riflemen to pilots and other officers. It takes everyone, working as a team to be effective as the strongest military in the world.”

“Veteran’s Day is an opportunity to publicly commemorate the contributions of veterans, both living and those who have passed on ... those who have fought, died and served to preserve this land of hopes and dreams,” Craig said. He told the history of this special day.

At the end of an inspiring and thought-provoking speech, Craig talked directly to the young people in the audience saying, “The future of this country is in your hands. Freedom can be only one generation away from extinction. You are our future leaders. You will lead this country in the direction that will insure its freedom and posterity. You as our future leaders, can only do so by showing your desire to pledge loyalty and true patriotism to the United States of America.”

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