Northwest Iowa — November 11th is Veterans Day — a day set aside to honor military veterans — that is, people who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
Veterans Day got its start as Armistice Day. On November 11, 1918, the armistice was signed ending World War I, which at that time was simply called “The Great War.” It was hoped that it had been the war to end all wars. But, of course, then came World War II. The name of the holiday was changed to Veterans Day in 1954.
Several observances are planned across the KIWA listening area. Here are the details of some of them:
In Sheldon, the Veterans Assembly will be held at Sheldon High School on Thursday, November 11 at 1:20 in the High School Auditorium. The assembly is organized by the Student Leadership Team. The High School Band will perform a selection, Mark Poyzer will be the speaker, Rachel Maggert will perform a vocal solo, Ada Borer will perform a vocal solo, and then there will be a slide presentation to recognize family members of students and staff who are currently serving or who have served in the military. The community is invited to attend. Afterward, there will be cookies and coffee for the Veterans to thank them for their service.
St. Patrick’s School will be having their Veteran’s Day program starting at 11:00 am at St. Patrick’s Church on November 11. The public is welcome to attend, and this will be an in-person event!
There will also be a Veterans Day Program on *WEDNESDAY*, November *10th* at 9:00 A.M. at the Sheldon Christian School Gym.
In Sibley, their Veterans Day program will be at 10:00 a.m. at the Sibley-Ocheyedan High School. Jake Bosma of Spirit Lake will speak. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard. The high school band and choir will perform, and afterward, refreshments will be served. Veterans and family members are encouraged to attend.
The Sioux County Department of Veterans Affairs and the Sioux Center Hy-Vee will offer a free breakfast to all veterans at the Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center from 7:30-10:00 a.m. on Thursday. Representatives available include County VSO & VA Commissioners, Partners for Patriots, Midwest Honor Flight, Orange City & Sioux Center Home Health, and the Sioux County Dutch Heritage Museum. Door prizes will be given to all veterans who attend. They can also register to win a hand-crafted quilt donated by the Sioux Prairie Quilters Guild and Blocks & Knots.
The Rock Rapids Veterans Day Program will be at Central Lyon High School at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. The High School Band and Chorus will perform. Central Lyon First Graders have prepared a special poem that will be read. The speaker is Travis Remme of the Rock Rapids United Methodist Church. Members of the Rock Rapids VFW and American Legion will perform the rifle salute at 11:11 a.m.
The George Veterans Day Program will be at the George-Little Rock High School at 10:00 a.m. on Veterans Day. The G-LR High School Band will perform several patriotic numbers, as will the choir. Several people will speak and make special presentations. The George Legion will make all their traditional stops, except that due to COVID restrictions, they will not be stopping at the George Good Samaritan Home.
At the Rock Valley High School, the Veterans Day speaker is Cory Van Sloten from Midwest Honor Flight. Rock Valley area veterans will present the colors. The Rock Valley High School Choir will sing the National Anthem and the band will play a patriotic number. This year’s program will end with a video in honor of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday in the Rock Valley High School Auditorium.
In Paullina, the program will be at the South O’Brien Junior and Senior High School at 10:00 a.m. The High School Band will perform the National Anthem as the colors are presented, and they’ll perform other numbers. The High School Choir will also perform. Pastor Don Meyer will speak, and there will be a veterans PowerPoint.
And in Hartley, the special speaker will be Elaine Leusink of Sioux Center. Leusink is a Gold Star mother who lost her son, Lance Cpl. William Leusink, in Iraq in 2006. She will discuss the experience of a Gold Star family and what it means to be a military family. The ceremony will start at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, at the HMS Event Center in Hartley. There will also be a program with HMS Elementary students at 9 a.m. The public is invited to attend both events.
