Opheim Remembers

The Opheim American Legion hosted their annual Veterans Day Ceremony to honor the service of their large veteran community. Marine Veteran and retired Miami-Dade police officer Jerry Davenport presided over the ceremony attended by members of the community, the students of Opheim school and dozens of veterans from the area.

Opheim student Damien Cable sang the Star-Spangled Banner accompanied by Cathy Bailey. The Opheim School choir then performed a rendition of "America I Give My Thanks To You" before the guest speaker, Valley County Sheriff Tom Boyer, gave a talk on the history of Veterans Day, his appreciation for the service of the veterans present, and all vets, and on the importance of remembering that service and "what it has freed us from."

Boyer invoked the counsel of President Woodrow Wilson by quoting the following from a speech he gave on the first "Armistice Day." He said, "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country's service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nation."

He then referred back to the line, "from which it has freed us," to illustrate the need to remember the service of veterans so as to avoid war and the horror it brings by remembering history. Boyer continued on to talk about the rights of Americans and all mankind secured by the valient service of those who have fought for this country, from those who have died to those who suffered physical injury to those who suffer mental injury.

The Opheim student body also chimed in with a poem written and recited by Jeffrey Delisle thanking the vets in the gymnasium for their service. Cole Taylor presented an oral essay on "What Makes America Great" arguing that, in his view, diversity, liberty and basic human rights make America great. Mandy Fuhrmann also presented a patriotic letter of gratitude to the veterans present in the room.

Davenport than presented American Legion Vietnam Service Pins to the Vietnam veterans at the presentation along with their spouses. The Post in Opheim had 16 veterans in attendance who served in Vietnam and qualified to wear the pins on their caps.

The Opheim School Choir than led those present in a rendition of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Bless America" before the closing prayer. Kent Nelson ended the ceremony with a performance of "Taps," the bugle song played during military honors, funerals and at times of remembrance.

Boy Scouts Aiden Fouhy and Cole Taylor presented and retired the national colors for the ceremony.