For those who’ve served
North Star Battalion honors vets
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CALUMET -- For the Veteran's Day Program Wednesday at Calumet High School, Copper Country veterans, community members and North Star Battalion JROTC cadets joined to honor veterans who served and those who lost their lives in the War on Terror.
Senior Army Instructor Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Leiter said Calumet's JROTC has a duty to honor those who served in the Copper Country and beyond. "Most people think it (JROTC) is military training, but it's really about motivating young people to be better citizens," he said. "Part of that is being a part of the larger veterans community here."
Calumet's program included student music groups playing songs such as "America" and "Traveling Soldier." Several color guard ceremonies also took place, including honoring prisoners of war and those missing in action -- who gave their lives during war efforts.
The more than 7,000 Americans who gave their lives in the War on Terror were honored through cadets pouring gold stars into a container with an American flag. Six cadets poured poured the stars, one for each operation in the Middle East.
Leiter said the Department of Defense sends out focuses for Veteran's Day Celebrations, with this year being the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "We typically have a special focus each year," he said. "This year, we thought it was really important because there's an entire generation of Global War on Terror veterans. This being a significant anniversary, obviously, we felt it was important to recognize that milestone."
Top ranking JROTC cadet Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Nagel said supporting veterans through events like this one of the North Star Battalion's top priorities. "I think it's very important to hold these ceremonies because it just shows how much appreciation we have for the veterans, especially in smaller communities when it might not feel appreciated," he said. "There are a lot of veterans here, as you can see. So, it's just important to recognize them and make sure they feel appreciated."
JROTC cadets finished the ceremony by thanking the veterans there and handing out flags the elementary students colored for them.
Nagel added JROTC has made him a better leader and a person overall. "The main goal of our program is to make better citizens," he said. "That means building the confidence and leadership, all the life skills that someone may need. I definitely have become a better public speaker. I have become a better leader and learned what leadership is and how to do it effectively."