Many weather snow to honor veterans

(Photo by Randy M. Cauthron) Brigadier General Allen J. Smith, retired Commander of the Iowa Air National Guard served as keynote speaker as part of the annual Veterans Day ceremonies at the Clay County Veterans Memorial. He is flanked by the event's master of ceremonies, Frank Lehman. [Order this photo]

With inclement weather stretched across northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, many scheduled Veterans Day ceremonies were cancelled.

But with snow falling all around him, Brigadier General Allen J. Smith, retired Commander of the Iowa Air National Guard reminded those gathered at the Clay County Veterans Memorial, just north of Spencer Municipal Utilities on Grand Avenue, that those that were being honored Tuesday had endured far worse.

Smith, a native of Spirit Lake, graduate of Arnolds Park High School and Iowa State University, and current resident of Milford delivered the keynote address at the Spencer Veterans Day presentation.

"We gather here this morning to reflect and to honor those men and women, past and present living and dead, who served the United States of America in armed conflict," said Smith. "…Today's observance should also remind us that freedom does not come as a birthright, but by the blood of patriots, their faithful duty and eternal sacrifice given in the defense of the freedoms bestowed upon us all by Almighty God.

"We should also remember the 1,543,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and coast guardsmen who have died in service to our country."

(Photo by Randy Cauthron) Many veterans turned out in the snow with their spouses, friends and loved ones to honor those who served. All joined in the singing of the National Anthem, led by Pastor Wendy Van Tassell. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

General Smith, four time winner of the 185th's annual "Top Gun" award, recipient of the 12th Air Force's A-7D Top Gun Award twice, and former winner of the A-7D Top Gun at the Worldwide Fighter Gunnery Meet noted that the sevice of the American soldier started at the country's formation and continues today. "This service began with the Revolutionary War and included the War of 1912, the Mexican War, the Civil War, the Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, as well as the Vietnam Conflict, Lebanon, Granada, Panama, the Persian Gulf. Somalia, and Haiti, and Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan are recent conflicts involving America's armed forces. This present war will not just be fought on battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq but often in a shadowy, background, shrouded in secrecy where our enemies plan to deceive and destroy us. Let us forever remember the atrocities of 9/11."

Smith took a moment to note the loss of one local son in the war on terror. "The war against terror hit home in Spencer, Iowa when one of its own, SPC Daryl Davis was killed while on a combat escort mission near Al Kut, Iraq. He was manning a machine gun turret atop a Humvee when his vehicle crashed….He was doing his part to help make Iraq a better place for others to live in freedom while at the same time helping our own country to be a safer place. I'm proud of Daryl and we will miss him very much.

"This country is honored by the service of Daryl Davis and the countless others like him who have served and are serving today in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in many other locations around the world."

(Photo by Randy Cauthron) Leora Riedemann, Bonnie Pullen-Lehman and Marjie Nading placed a wreath in rememberance at the memorial in recognition of Veterans Day. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

In addition to General Smith's talk, Johnson Elementary School student, Jordan Hanson, the 2008 Fifth Grade Essay winner delivered her patriotic reading: "What the Flag Means to Me." (See inset story box on page 1).

Hanson, the daughter of Curt and Julie Hansen of Spencer, wrote the essay as a fifth grader as part of a class project for the American Legion. She placed first in the American Legion Essay Contest, "What the American Flag Means to Me."

Pastor Wendy Van Tassell led the audience in both the National Anthem and "God Bless America."

Spencer American Legion Chaplain, Steve Waller delivered a special prayer. "We pray for peace and we pray for all who serve the public, that they are able to remember veterans and the sacrifice they give along with their loved ones….May their devotion and loyalty to You and to their homeland inspire them in moments of challenge, and comfort them in tribulation and long separation from loved ones. And finally, we ask that they may return safely to serve You and our country in the days and years to come."

Smith, who logged more than 3,800 flying hours, had a distinguished career that included military awards and decorations including: the Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Meritorious Service Medal with one Oakleaf Cluster, Air Medal with five Oakleaf Clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three Oakleaf Clusters, Vietnam Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal with one Oakleaf Cluster, and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. He reminded all, "As our brave and dedicated soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, and many American families, and some families here today know: Freedom is not free and must be defended. Freedom comes with a price and all too often that price has been paid with the lives and the futures of America's best….If you know or ever meet a veteran, thank them for their service and sacrifice."

(Photo by Randy Cauthron) Frank Lehman salutes the U.S. Flag. [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Frank Lehman served as master of ceremonies, members of the local American Legion and VFW posted guard, Darrell Tonderum and Gale Igou were charged with raising the flag, Joan Waller led the Pledge of Allegiance, Bob Fagen offered a special welcome, and the Iowa Army National Guard provided the firing salute followed by "Taps" performed by Jack Ryan and Kurt Schwarck.

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(Photo by Randy Cauthron) Jordan Hansen of Johnson Elementary School in Spencer braved the snow to deliver her award winning American Legion Essay, "What the American Flag Means to Me." [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The American Flag

For me the flag stands for freedom. That we live in a country with equal rights that entitle you to just be yourself. It stands for independence, which we need to remember, because it's something that the people of our past worked very hard for. It represents the connection of our states, and that we are one united country that has members who will be there to support each other. It shows that we have the strength to defend our country, our rights, and to protect our people. The flag keeps that hope in the back of your mind that it will be okay, and our country will get through it together. It represents the soldiers who are risking their lifes for our country. It stands for symbolizing your country as a good person by helping others and always doing your best.

But most of all, the flag stands for you. Your live, your family, your world. My cousin is fighting for our country, and the flag reminds me of him. I think everyone should live by the flag, because it symbolizes the culture of our country. You can say your clothes symbolize you, you can say your food symbolizes you, but what I think really symbolizes each individual person is what they have done. And that's what the flag represents for our country: All that we have accomplished. Since what we do is one of the biggest parts of our daily lives, I think the flag should be included as a big part in everyone's lives. Since the flag stands for so much we need to respect it and be very careful with it and all that it stands for. I believe that the flag and all that it represents help our country to stick together.