By DALE HOGG
Barton County Media Consultant
The American and service flags adorning the Golden Belt Veterans Memorial north of Great Bend danced in the gentle northeast breeze on an unseasonably warm November Tuesday afternoon as the Barton County community gathered for the annual Veterans Day memorial program to honor those who are or have served in the United States armed forces.
Local trumpeter Marc Webster opened the solemn occasion with reveille, followed by the Great Bend High School marching band performing a medley of musical themes from the different branches of the armed services, and Susan Williams, Barton County’s Register of Deeds, singing the anthem. Members of the Legion Riders Post 180 were present, and Boy Scouts were on hand.
"Welcome to our Veterans Day Memorial program,” said Toni Rice, chairperson of the Barton County Memorial Parks Advisory Committee, which organized the event at Golden Belt Memorial Park. Compared to years past when cold autumn winds met participants, “we finally have a beautiful day today to honor our veterans.”
Also at the observance were members of the Junior Air Force ROTC Color Guard from Washburn Rural High School.
Barton County commissioners Shawn Hutchinson, himself a veteran, Barb Esfeld and Duane Reif, and County Administrator Matt Patzner joined those present to honor the nation’s veterans.
Presidential proclamation read
Cadet Maj. Mariah McDonald of the Washburn Rural Junior ROTC presented a historical reading of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's 1954 proclamation officially changing the name of the Nov. 11 holiday from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.
The proclamation called upon all citizens to observe the day to "solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who have fought so valiantly... to preserve our heritage of freedom" and "reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace."
A personal connection to service
Cadet Capt. Kelcie Schneider, the granddaughter of Hoisington residents Norbert and Terry Schneider, spoke, highlighting the personal meaning of service and sacrifice.
"When we think about the word veteran, we think of courage, strength and service. But there's another word that always comes to mind: sacrifice," Schneider said, noting that her great-grandfather served in World War II and her father served in Korea and Iraq. "The freedoms I enjoy today were not free. They were earned, often at a great cost, by those who chose duty over comfort and courage over fear."
Schneider, speaking on behalf of the next generation, emphasized the responsibility that comes with freedom.
"I stand here today as a young cadet who understands that freedom is a gift, one that must be protected, appreciated and carried forward," she said. "I don't just stand in the shadow of those who served before me. I carry their torch, determined to honor their legacy through the way I live and serve others."
Keynote speaker challenges community
The featured speaker was retired Air Force Lt. Col. Ron Daniels, a former space and missile officer who now serves as the senior aerospace science instructor at Washburn Rural High School.
Daniels, who served for 24 years, challenged the audience to not only thank veterans but to live their lives in a way that honors their service. After asking veterans and then military family members to stand, Daniels noted that everyone present was connected to the military's sacrifices.
"Everybody tells you the type of honor to live with. They don't always tell you how to do it," Daniels said. He quoted C.S. Lewis from 1948, urging people to live sensible, human lives despite the threat of negativity or conflict, because the freedom to do so was provided by veterans.
"You should enjoy every day to its fullest, because it's a day the Lord has given you, and it's a day that the veterans of this great nation have provided for you," he said.
“Those of you that have served, those of you who are family members of people who have served, we all know the sacrifices,” he said. “I would dare say my family sacrificed more than I did because I was out doing my mission that I was called to do my family wasn't necessarily called to do that same mission, but yet they persevered. They not only persevered, but they encouraged me at every step of the way. And they were always, not only there for me, but they were there for those I served with.”
Daniels concluded by calling on the community to continue educating the youth about the value of service, citing the participation of the high school band and notes he received from third graders as signs of hope for the future.
The ceremony ended with the traditional laying of an evergreen and endless wreath by the scouts and the solemn folding of the U.S. flag by the color guard. The stirring strains of taps played by Webster echoed over the memorial park adding the final punctuation.
About Barton County
Located in Central Kansas, Barton County lives by its motto of investing in growth. Supporting a variety of initiatives, the Barton County Commission invites residents to be part of broader conversations and to work in a joint effort for a robust economy, improved quality of life and collaboration that positions Barton County for the future. Check it out at 1400 Main Street, Suite 108, Great Bend, KS 67530, 620-793-1800, www.bartoncounty.org.