Past, present, future veterans honored in local ceremonies

(Above) Clear Lake V.F.W. Post 4868 Commander Mike Nelson grasps an American flag at the conclusion of a flag folding ceremony held as part of Veterans Day services at Clear Lake High School.-Reporter photo by Chris Barragy.

by Katie Behr

Clear Lake High School honored veterans past, present, and future Friday, Nov. 9.  At the flag pole the Veterans of Foreign Wars Honor Guard presented a 21 gun salute, followed by the playing of Taps by Carson Krefft, Kara Branstad, Rebeccah Christensen, Haley Beatty and Instrumental Music Director Brandon Borseth.

The crowd proceeded to the auditorium where Jacob Chizek delivered opening statements on liberty, noting “no nation on the planet comes close to understanding how Americans define liberty,” and that those that serve focus their efforts at home and overseas on “bringing the blessings of liberty to the rest of the world.”

Aaron Blum focused attention on the words that Bridger Thomson and a double quartet sang in Battle Hymn of the Republic, “His truth is marching on.”  Blum defined the message that the song delivers about the truths that our veterans have fought for and that these truths are so self evident, they are “so simple and obviously right that they prove themselves,” and that these truths are something to be fought for.

Special recognition was bestowed upon Clear Lake High School alumni that went on to serve our country.  Those recognized included: Robert Hoffard, Curtis Ruby, Kyle Smith, Kent Knorr, Sarah Christ, Jacob Wessels, Nathan Tofte, Kirk Sorbo, James Vine, Donald Nichols, Jeremy Rosel, Chad Clancy, Christian Tyndall, Nathan DiCamillo, Randy Milhan, Gabriel Meints, Walter Nickerson, Ron Franks, Aaron Howlett, Katherine Kennedy, John Kennedy, Douglas Kennedy and Karen Orbaker. Chance Poley was recognized as a student that has enlisted upon his high school graduation this coming May.

Speakers Blum and Mattie Krause recognized the veterans by telling their stories- the branch they served in, where

[wlm_nonmember]To read more of this article, please login or sign up for our E-Edition[/wlm_nonmember][wlm_ismember]

they were stationed, and their ties to Clear Lake.

Two young men shared video remarks from where they were stationed when the students reached out to them.

The children of deceased veterans Jim Ransom and Walter Nickerson also videotaped messages about their fathers’ service and a folded flag was presented to the children of Jim Ransom.

Other students involved with putting on the assembly, assisted by teacher Tony Kockler, were as follows: Interviewers David Guetzlaff and Jacob Petersen. Main technical director, Lewis Calloway. Main auditorium sound and light technician, Rachel Thornton. Technical assistant, Ben Gerbus and David Guetzlaff. Auditorium technical assistant, Logan Ruff. Members of the choir, Mallory Leisure, Mattie Krause, Hope Shaman, Kara Reineke, Bridger Thomsen, Ben Stroup, Devon Conway, Noan Colby. Members of the band, Courtney Doughan, Tim and Theo Swanson, Lydia Futrell, Kara Brandstand, Michael Christensen, and Rebeccah Christensen.

[/wlm_ismember]