Veterans Day 2014 was commemorated in a variety of ways. In Grand Marais the Cook County High School gym was packed for a program honoring veterans. American Legion Post 413 posted the colors and stood solemnly at attention during the performance of The Star Spangled Banner by the band and choir.
Veterans Day 2014 offered many opportunities to honor our county’s veterans, starting with a drum ceremony and flag raising in Grand Portage and continuing with a moving Veterans Day Concert at Cook County Schools in Grand Marais. Rounding out the day, veterans were treated to free meals at Sven & Ole’s Pizza or the American Legion Post 413 in Grand Marais.
Grand Portage honors veterans
The Stonebridge Singers—Marcus Logan, David Logan, John Vogel, Trevor Deschampe, Kyler Deschampe, Brent Sorenson and mentor Bob Vogel— started the Grand Portage Veterans Day gathering at American Legion Post 2009 with drum song. Veteran Curtis Gagnon spoke on the meaning of Veterans Day and shared a poem by 16-year-old Marie Frankson When I see an Eagle.
Gagnon said the poem sums up why people gather on Veterans Day. He said, “It’s a poem that seems dedicated to our veterans and what they served for.
Above: Veterans were the speakers of the day—School Counselor Kris Hoffman (left) in Grand Marais and Curtis Gagnon in Grand Portage. Right: In Grand Portage veterans were honored with a very special drum song by the Grand Portage Stonebridge Singers.
“Freedom is not free. Someone had to pay. We must remind our youth of today what price was paid and continues to be paid and what the phrase Duty, Honor, Country means.
“Thank you to all of our veterans and their families. All of us who are free today are free only because of that hat our veterans have sacrificed. We must never forget this. Thank you – Miigwech.”
The Stonebridge Singers offered a special honor song for veterans and a moment of silence was observed in honor of those who have died. After a traveling song, everyone enjoyed refreshments courtesy of the Post 2009 Auxiliary in the Grand Portage Legion building.
Cook County Schools offers Veterans Day Concert
Many of the veterans left the Grand Portage ceremony to take in another, in the Cook County High School gym, which was transformed into a hallowed hall by the music and memories shared.
After the American Legion Post 413 Honor Guard and Auxiliary posted the flags, the high school choir, directed by Erika Ternes, beautifully sang the Star Spangled Banner. All in attendance joined in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. A touching slide show of lovingly cared for military cemeteries was viewed as the high school band, directed by Kerri Bilben, played Hymn to the Fallen by John Williams.
There was recognition then of some very special veterans, 101-year-old former Army nurse Lu Pettijohn and 100-year-old Willard Nelson, who reached the rank of Captain during his service to his country.
The guest speaker was CCHS Academic and Career Counselor—and Corporal— Kris Hoffman, who served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 2004 – 2012. Hoffman spoke of the men he had served with in Afghanistan, noting their selfless service to their country. He too spoke of Duty, Honor, Country. He asked the audience to remember those who lived up to those ideals and he asked them to thank our military veterans, as well as police and firefighters, who also offer selfless public service.
Hoffman added a special thanks to Athletic Director Pam Taylor and the Student Councils for arranging a “Cookies for Troops” drive. “As a guy who’s gotten those cookies, I can tell you, it really means a lot,” he said.
He finished with another thank you. “Thank you veterans,” he said, “You’ve made the flag up there worth so much more than the fabric it is printed on.”
The high school band and choir, along with the middle school choir, shared the Armed Forces Salute. As the song played for each branch of the military service, veterans were asked to stand to be recognized.
The concert ended with God Bless America and CCHS students Libby Zafft and Owen Anderson played a poignant rendition of Taps, sending veterans off with heartfelt thanks and appreciation from the school and the community.
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