Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette The Superior Battalion, JROTC annual Veterans Day program began with a Rifle Cordon and Presentation of Colors.

HOUGHTON — The Superior Battalion, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps annual Veterans Day Program conducted on Friday, November 10, at 11 a.m. in the Houghton High School gymnasium was well-attended and included families of cadets as well as military veterans and the general public.

The program, said JROTC Instructor, U.S. Army Col. Dylan Carlson (Ret), is cadet-organized and led. The two principle organizers were Battalion Commander, Cadet Lt. Colonel Sarah Jaehnig and Battalion Executive Officer (XO) Cadet Major Ty Crisman.

The program, approximately an hour long, included an introduction speech by Cadet Private Hannah Cinol, followed by a Rifle Cordon, the presentation of Colors and the Houghton High School Choir singing the Star Spangled Banner, directed by Hillary Arundel, choir director.

The Houghton High School Band performed the Veteran Salute, directed by Kelly Fontaine, as well as the patriotic tune, America.

Guest Speaker was Major Jacob Broullire. Broullire, a UV-18B instructor and functional check flight pilot in the 98th Flying Training Squadron for the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.

Broullire highlighted his military career and the sacrifices military personnel endure to serve and protect the country.

Currently, he said, less than 1% of the U.S. population is serving in the military, and all veterans account for less than 7% of the population.

“Take some time to talk with them,” Broullire suggested. “Each of them has their own tale to tell and most will be happy to speak about their services.”

Regardless of which branch of service a veteran served, or what job they did, said Broullire, each veteran who served was part of something larger than themselves in upholding the values of the nation.

One of the three points of the Air Force, Broullire said, is service before self.

“I’ve missed funerals, weddings, birthdays and anniversaries,” he told the assembly.

Throughout the program, cadets read stories they had written about family members who had served in the military.

The program also included the Empty Chair Ceremony, a solemn observance of those who are prisoners of war (POWs) and missing in action (MIA).

The Flag Folding included an explanation of what each of the 13 folds of the United States flag represent, narrated by Cadet Private First Class (PFC) Rebecca Joyal.

The program concluded with Taps, performed by Emanuela Bagnasco, echoed by Nelson Monte.