2025 Veterans Day — A Remembrance and a Celebration

November is one of the months that honors our veterans. A little background … The major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the armistice with Germany went into effect. It was called Armistice Day. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. Veterans Day honors the service of all U.S. veterans while Memorial Day, in May, specifically remembers the service of those men and women who died serving their country.

The Veterans Day ceremony at New London school is celebrated every year with students K-12 participating. This year was no different. After the welcome and introductions by Superintendent Chad Wahls, the local VFW Troop #7641 presented the colors. It is regarded as a symbolic gesture that represents the unity, respect, and dignity of the occasion. Two veterans accompanied the flag of the United States with its colors of red, white, and blue. The high school choir sang the national anthem, and K-5 students recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

The speaker for the occasion was Sergeant First Class (SFC) Kyle D. Green. He had joined the Marine Corps. in 2005, right after he graduated from high school. In 2008, he was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Other places he has been stationed include Japan and various other stateside locations. SFC Green has been trained to be multiskilled in various jobs, including diesel mechanic.

In 2013, Sergeant Green left the Marine Corps. to focus on his family. In Feb. of 2019, Green enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard. In Sept. of 2019, he was accepted as the local recruiter for Fairfield and the surrounding area. In July of this year, he was selected for the Iowa National Guard, Recruiting and Retention Section Sergeant for Southeast Iowa.

This highly decorated Sergeant First Class lives in Sigourney, Iowa with Kendra, his wife of 16 years, and his two daughters, Isabelle and Jocelyn, and his son Everett.

His address to the student body was inspirational. He talked about his service and the positive choice that it was and continues to be. He talked about the meaning of Veterans Day and the importance of the recognition to the veterans’ service this day provides.

After his talk, the ceremony continued. There was recognition of the military branches and the meaning of the 13 folds of the American flag as explained by student council member Kennedy Herrick.

As the ceremony came to a close, there was a moment of silence as Mr. Anderson played “Taps” and the colors were retired.

It gave everyone in the audience the opportunity to leave the gym both inspired and thankful, but also humbled by the sacrifices these veterans were willing to make to keep our country protected and free.