2023 Veterans Day Ceremony in Pinedale
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
November 13, 2023
The Pinedale Veterans Day programs were held on Friday, November 10th, so that schools could participate. Programs were held for the Pinedale Elementary, Middle and High Schools. A community program was held Sheppard Auditorium. A lunch was served at the Pinedale VFW after the programs.
Veterans Day is a Federal holiday honoring men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces on the anniversary of the end of World War I. The war ended in an armistice agreement on the 11th month at the 11th hour.
Mike Edison, US Army, Commander of the local American Legion, served as Master of Ceremonies.
Rob Post, US Army, Vietnam Veteran and VFW member, emphasized, "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country." A quote from President John F. Kennedy
The Pinedale High School Combined Choirs and Pinedale High School Concert Band performed selected songs during the presentation, directed by Gregory Allen and Justin Smith.
Invocation was by Chaplain Randy Belton.
Keynote Speakers were:
Middle School: MSgt (Master Sergeant) Curt Pluhar, Wyoming Army National Guard
High School: SFC (Sergeant First Class) Michael Scherbel, Wyoming Army National Guard
This year’s Boys and Girls State representatives gave short talks about their experience at the program. This year’s
Boys State Delegates were Andy DeClue, Jamison Snell, and
Brycen Vrska. This year’s Girls State Delegates were
Isabella Allen, Kelsey Cooper, and Fatima Valles Valenzuela.
Windy Noble, representing the VFW Auxiliary, gave presentations to students for the Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest. This year’s theme was, "What are the greatest attributes of our Democracy?" Students won cash scholarships for their winning entries.
Michael Edison presented several Community Awards:
Educator's Award:
For supporting the mission of the American Legion and promoting Americanism.
Recipients:
Heather Ryan, received at Elementary School Ceremony
Chandra Stough, received at Elementary School Ceremony
David Thrash, received at Middle School Ceremony
Brian Brisko, received at High School Ceremony
Award of Appreciation:
For supporting the mission of the American Legion and promoting Americanism. For keeping the peace and enforcing the Rule of Law within our communities. For upholding the US Constitution and Wyoming Constitution and holding true to his/her sworn Oath.
Recipients:
Sgt. Shawn Streeter, US Marine and Sublette County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Hana Patterson, Sublette County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Jason Overbaugh, Sublette County Sheriff’s Office
Presentation by Mike Edison:
"We are celebrating it today so that we may be in our local schools. We are very grateful to the schools and our community for allowing us this opportunity. (High School) This program is also being broadcast "Live" on our local radio station KPIN. We are grateful to PureWest Energy for sponsoring this broadcast for the last several years. Veterans Day is officially celebrated on November 11th. It is the day WWI ended in an armistice agreement. The 11th month, the 11th day, the 11th hour, all fighting ceased, the war was over.
Today, we honor ALL Veterans, both living and dead. They ALL took an Oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic". They did this to preserve our individual freedoms, our culture and our way of life. "All gave some, some gave all," meaning up to and including their own life. They were and are willing to do this for the greater good of us all." - Michael Edison, Commander, American Legion
5 Veterans Day Facts
1. There are approximately 19.5 million veterans in the United States.
2. As of 2018, 18.2 million veterans who are still alive served in at least one war.
3. 9% of all veterans in the U.S. are women.
4. As of 2019, the states with the highest percentage of veterans were Alaska, Wyoming and Virginia.
5. 325,000 out of 16 million Americans who participated in World War II, were still alive in 2020.
|
