Every Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day is celebrated in the United States.
De Pere HS held an in-school observation of the holiday on Friday, Nov. 10, as the actual day fell on a Saturday.
We had veterans in the community ranging from recent graduates of basic training to veterans retired for 15 years or more.
During 3rd hour, a meeting was held in the community room where our veteran visitors gathered to answer questions about their time in basic and onward.
Here are a few personal favorites.
Alex Van Asten, a long time veteran who spent 12 years across Asia, said he “joined the Air Force as a 17-year-old who thought they had better food.”
Andrew Kieffer, a son of veterans (Carrie and Scott Katzka), was asked about his experience at basic, a 6-to-13 week period where in the army beats you down and builds you back.
“The first couple weeks really do suck,” he said. “But they are trying to strip you of your bad habits, re-instill what they want. In the moment it feels like an eternity, but once you’re out it’s gone like that.”
No matter the experience, everyone was in agreement that if you wanted good food in the military, you found the next shuttle to the nearest Air Force base.
After this meeting concluded, the veterans were gathered in the auditorium for the 5th hour presentation. During this hour, a table was laid out for a ceremonial remembrance of POW/MIA veterans called the “Lone Soldier Table” or “Fallen Comrade Table.”
This was followed by a slideshow of any veterans throughout history that were related to those in the school or from the community, this included their birth, death (if applicable) and their rank, along with years served/serving.
Veteran’s Day is a beautiful day in which we remember those who served our country and those who will continue to serve. Every person who walked across that stage fought for their own reasons and for the common cause of keeping our freedom and country safe for us to enjoy. It is another day to thank everyone we’ve seen pass that stage – thank them for their service to our country.
Photos from the Veteran’s Day ceremony in the DPHS auditorium on Nov. 10, 2023.
