Exeter Recognizes Veteran's Day

Veterans enjoyed rolls and coffee in the school cafeteria before the program.

Veterans stand and are recognized during the Exeter Veteran's Day Program.

Tim Wilbeck speaks during the Exeter Veteran's Day Program.

Veteran's are asked to stand and are recognized.

Veterans from surrounding areas were honored at the Exeter-Milligan gymnasium on Monday morning.

Just prior to the program, veterans and their spouses were invited to each rolls and coffee in the school cafeteria.

The crowd was welcomed by senior Megan Zwickl before the Pack 218 Cub Scouts Tiger Den presented the colors and led the crowd in the flag ceremony.

The Exeter-Milligan Senior High Choir did a beautiful job singing Star Spangled Banner before the Exeter-Milligan High School Band played America’s Finest.

During the band performance, veterans in the crowd were asked to stand as their branch of service song was played.  The crowd applauded their service.

Tim Wilbeck, a member of the Exeter American Legion and a veteran himself, gave the speech.

Wilbeck reminded the crowd that Veteran’s Day is to honor those who have served in our country.  He spoke of the two Navy Seals who were recently killed in Benghazi protecting American citizens. “We must not only remember their sacrifice but remember the price paid by their heartbroken families.”

Speaking to the students and community members, Wilbeck encouraged all to remember “Sometimes all that is needed is a simple thank you.”

In speaking of living veterans, Wilbeck stated that “One in four of the homeless in the United States are veterans and nine out of ten of those received an honorable discharge. . .this is hardly the thanks of a grateful nation.  When an emergency hits there’s a good chance that the first one on the scene is a veteran.”

Wilbeck reminded the crowd that our first President, George Washington quipped, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.”

The Exeter-Milligan Junior High Choir sang, Our America which was an arrangement of traditional patriotic tunes.

The Exeter-Milligan High School Choir was joined by a few members of the Junior High Choir and sang America, The Beautiful.

Exeter-Milligan senior Blake Papik thanked the veterans again and also the crowd for attending before dismissal.