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Honoring vets crosses party lines

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Area veterans gathered before a large flag and clapped in time as their fellow service members were each honored by the band playing Salute to America's Finest. (Press photo by Molly Moser)

By Molly Moser

While unrest continued across the country following the 2016 presidential election, students and community members of varying beliefs gathered in the Clayton Ridge school gymnasium to celebrate and honor veterans of the United States military. People stood as one, the band played as one, and hands found hearts while flags passed. 

Flag essay contest winners Maddie Radabaugh and Savannah Meyer led the crowd in pledging allegiance to the flag. Jeremy Idler directed the band as Dennis Hannah narrated Duty, Honor, Country and led the assembly. “A veteran, whether active duty, discharged, retired or reserved, is someone who at one point in their life wrote a blank check made payable to the USA for an amount up to, and including, their life,” Hannah quoted. 

Veterans trooped to the front of the room as their branches of service were recognized with the playing of Salute to America’s Finest. Civilians rose and clapped for members of the service in a tribute particularly moving in light of the divisiveness of recent political events.

Quilts of Valor were presented to 16 local veterans. “May your quilt be a healing comfort when you need it and a continual reminder that we honor and thank you for your service and sacrifices to protect and defend the United States of America,” said Quilts of Valor representative Rosalie Kickbush. High school students Jake Jensen and Spencer Gull displayed quilts as they were presented in turn to: Lowell Moser, U.S. Navy, Vietnam; Donald Berns, U.S. Army, Germany; Terry Meyer, U.S. Navy, Pacific Ocean; Allan Berns, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam; John Berns, U.S. Army, Germany; Billy Jo Berns, U.S. Army, Korea; Dennis Parker, U.S. Army, Germany; Curtis Torrey, U.S. Army, Vietnam; Roger Torrey, U.S. Army, Vietnam; Gary Hefel, U.S. Army, Vietnam; Lonnie Aulwes, U.S. Navy, Vietnam; Lee Moser, U.S. Navy, Desert Storm; Roger Klemp, U.S. Army, Vietnam; James Clinton, U.S. Navy, Vietnam; Jim Schlueter, U.S. Army, Korea; and Mark Brown, Sr., U.S. Navy, Vietnam.

Steve and Michele Dikkers on guitar and upright bass, respectively, and Jesse Moser on guitar, led a Veterans Day sing along. 

Rosalie Kickbush read the names of veterans who died in the past year: Theodore Roth, Mark Czarnecki, E.H. Skip Hall, Neil Webster, James Kuempel, Donald Kann, Jimmy Hansel, Ronald Meyer, Robert Tackman, Vernon Cherne, Ronald Kephart, Owen Moser, Bruce Moser, Lorimer Olson, Jerry Reick, Alvin Johnson, Derek Moser, Sr., Marvin Vaske, Kent Roeder, Melvin Matt, Edward Schlueter, Jr. Taps were then played in tribute. 

Girls and Boys State alumni in attendance were recognized. High school students Logan Peterson, Levi Berns, Mathew Anderson, Dalton Berns, Cora Lawrence and Megan Nemecek, who represented the school, communities, Legion and Auxiliary last summer at American Legion Hawkeye Boys and Girls State 2016, were each given a flag flown over the national capitol and a certificate signed by Charles Grassley. 

Sharon Keehner, Adam Radcliffe, Michelle Fassbinder and Jesse Moser sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic with accompaniment from the band, and the Clayton Ridge chamber choir performed the National Anthem. 

Unity prevailed on Veterans Day in Guttenberg as crowds rose again and again to applaud veterans, honoring those who have kept our country free to practice democracy. 

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