Veterans honored at Mid-Prairie

WELLMAN — Mid-Prairie held an assembly and ceremony for the community’s veterans and service members Thursday morning, the day before Veterans Day. The program was organized by the school’s Family, Career & Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapter.

”Students, you have the option to be educated, you have the option to pursue a career of your choice … the opportunity to believe whatever you want, the opportunity to live free,“ Principal Chuck Banks said. ”Your generation has the responsibility and the privilege to continue to honor our veterans … They are the reason we are able to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities that we each have.“

As students filed out of the gymnasium and back to class at the assembly’s end, many shook hands with and thanked the former service members who attended.

“People thanking me and stuff, it means a lot,” said Randy Swartzendruber, who helped present the flags for the event. “(It’s) good. Like somebody appreciated it.”

Former Marine Ron Northup said the recognition from a younger generation was especially meaningful.

“Young people care about what we did and they’re recognizing us,” he said. “It may not be Veterans Day but still, they were here. It makes me feel super great that they took the time, really.”

For some, programs like Mid-Prairie’s stand in stark contrast to community reactions when they first returned to the country.

“When we came home from Vietnam, we weren’t honored at all,” Northup said. “We were spat on, called names and everything else. So something like this is extra special to us.”

Jack Seward Jr., also a veteran, agreed.

“Seeing stuff like this really gives a person hope for the future,” he said. “They’ve done good.”

Dan Callahan said he heard about the event at the last minute, and changed his plans in order to attend.

“I’m so glad that the school took the initiative to put on a program like this,” he said.

During the assembly, former service members stood up to introduce themselves, some telling brief anecdotes about their experience in the military.

Former marine John Conway said the “most important thing (he) did was come home.”

"I was 22 years old, I didn’t have a family yet, I had a wife,“ he said. ”The most important thing in my mind was to make it home and complete that family. It was on all of our minds, everybody that was there.“

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com