What is Veterans Day?
Veterans from Red Oak and Montgomery County were honored in special ceremonies at Red Oak’s middle and high schools on Monday, Nov. 13.
The master of ceremonies was Bob Fenstermann with the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Court of Honor. Fenstermann said it was important to honor all veterans for their duty to our nation.
“A veteran is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check to the United States of America, in an amount up to, and including, their life,” said Fenstermann.
The ceremony featured performances from the Red Oak High School varsity choir and the Red Oak High School band. The Court of Honor posted the colors and performed the rifle salute. Wreaths were placed by representatives of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the VFW Auxiliary.
The guest speaker was Major Matthew H. Peterson of Jacksonville, N.C. Peterson is the son of Darwin Peterson and stepson of Teresa Peterson of Red Oak. Peterson enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1994, and was later honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1998. He was later commissioned in 2002 as a second lieutenant through the officer candidates course. He served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and later, Operation Enduring Freedom. Currently he serves as the operations officer of Marine barracks in Washington, where he currently serves.
Peterson said he was pleased to be back in Montgomery County, and said home will always be in Montgomery County.
“I may be connected here through my six generations of family, or because of the warmth and hospitality I’ve been shown by of all Iowans when I come home. Whatever it is, I know this is my home, and I’m grateful to be welcomed,” Peterson said.
Peterson then raised the question of what Veterans Day was.
“Veterans Day is the recognition of the value of service. I travel a lot, and whenever I travel in uniform, people shake my hand and thank me for my service. In addition to recognizing the value of service, it’s an opportunity for every to acknowledge the value of the men and women who have served,” commented Peterson.
Since the origins of the military 240 years ago, Peterson said the willingness to serve and protect the country has been passed like a torch through everyone who served in the military.
“It was passed to my grandfather who fought in WWII and Korea. It was passed to my father who served in Vietnam and in Desert Storm, and was passed to me. That tradition of service is why America continues to be the greatest nation in the history of the world. Veterans Day is important because, if we forget the value of that service, we run the risk of losing our nation as we know it,” advised Peterson.
Peterson then asked the members of the audience what was next, and what they wanted to do.
“If you want to honor veterans, you must do more than shake their hands and thank them for their service. While it’s appreciated, you must do more. You have to ask what you’re going to do today and tomorrow to serve your country,” said Peterson.
Peterson added that serving the country went beyond just serving in the military.
“You can serve by staying in school and graduating. When you graduate, do something that helps your community. Go to college or get a job. Learn a service that others can’t provide. Be a doctor, or a teacher, or a police officer, or a fireman. The list is endless. Do things that help the people in you community. If you’re doing that, then you’re serving your country,” Peterson said.