Thank you, veterans! There were a number of community events honoring Cook County veterans on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. The American Legion Post 413 Honor Guard participated in the Cook County High School Veterans Day Program. After posting the flags, Legion members took their seats of honor. (L-R) Bob Mattson, Orvis Lunke, Ron Wilson, James Ford.
Drum song, band music and chorale voices were raised in songs of honor for our nation’s veterans on Wednesday, November 11 as Cook County community members gathered in Grand Portage and Grand Marais.
Young and old give thanks for veterans
Grand Portage American Legion Post 2009 was decorated for Veterans Day with lovely red, white and blue paintings created by Grand Portage Headstart, thanking veterans for their service.
The Stonebridge Singers and mentors welcomed all to the Legion Post on the hillside overlooking Lake Superior with drum songs.
Veterans Day speaker Curtis Gagnon thanked all for coming on this day of honor and introduced a few key guests. He welcomed Patrick Finn of Grand Marais, a Korean War Veteran who was a member of “Frozen Chosin,” the Chosin Reservoir Campaign in Korea, one of the most brutal battles in American history.
Gagnon thanked Vivian Carlson and Joe Porter for the military service of their father, Lex Porter, who was a Code Talker in World War II and who posthumously received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service.
Gagnon said his father and his uncle both served in World War II and he followed in their footsteps. Gagnon said, “I always looked up to our veterans. I wanted to follow their example of courage and patriotism.”
Gagnon enlisted in the Air Force in the Vietnam era. He was a communicator in planes, never knowing where he was to be sent. He recalled that he missed home and friends and family, but his four years of service went by quickly. And, he said, he made a lot of friends and learned a lot.
“I want to thank all of our veterans, not just Grand Portage veterans, but all who served their country. I applaud all of our veterans. All of us who are free today are free because of what our veterans have done. Thank you. Miigwech.”
The Stonebridge Singers shared a final Honor Song and veterans, friends and family enjoyed a light lunch prepared by the Post 2009 Auxiliary.
The Cook County High School Band and American Legion Honor Guard stood respectfully as the High School Choir sang the national anthem.
Cook County Schools celebrate veterans with music
The American Legion Post 413 Honor Guard opened the Cook County Schools’ Veterans Day Program, standing at attention as the Cook County High School Choir sang the national anthem. The audience, including dozens of elementary school students, remained standing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Kris Hoffman, school guidance counselor and corporal in the U.S. Army National Guard, 2004 – 2012, gave a welcome, remembering that he was the speaker at last year’s Veterans Day program, shortly after coming to the school. At that event, witnessing the community coming together to honor its veterans, Hoffman said, “That’s the day that Cook County changed from a place to work, to home.”
“Today I stand before you with extreme pride for this school and of our veterans.”
The Cook County Schools Choir sang several selections including a moving piece Finlandia Hymn (Song of Peace).
Hoffman was proud to introduce two students to speak about what Veterans Day means to them, Cook County High School junior Hannah Vander Heiden and Cook County High School Senior Leo Johnson. They each gave a meaningful speech about veterans they have known.
The CCHS Band and Choir performed several stirring pieces, under direction of Kerri Bilben and Ericka Ternes, God Bless America and From Sea to Shining Sea and Armed Forces Salute.
During the Armed Forces Salute, veterans were asked to stand when the theme song of their branch of service was played.
The choir also sang a poignant selection, Finlandia Hymn (Song of Peace), a song dating back to Armistice Day, the day on which the armistice was signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiegne, France. On the day the armistice was signed—on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month—it was believed that the war to end all wars had ended.
Sadly, that was not the case, as the audience was reminded by a video presentation shared—Here’s to the Heroes.
The concert ended with the retiring of the flag and the haunting sound of Taps, played by CCHS seniors Owen Anderson and Andrew Lashinski.
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