Last week, both Becker and Big Lake School Districts celebrated Veterans Day, honored local veterans, and educated their students about what Veterans Day means with two excellent presentations. 

Becker

Becker hosted several presentations, one for each of the schools in the district. Members of American Legion 193 presented the colors to begin the presentation, and the assembled audience stood for the national anthem as sung and played by the high school choir and band. 

The band went on to perform Honor (the main title theme from the movie, Pacific) and Moscow 1941.

Staff Sgt. Craig Vogl then spoke on the history of Veterans Day, explaining how it was called Armistice Day and recognized the end of WWI before being broadened to honor American veterans of all wars. Vogl went on to note that there are over 20,000 current and former military members living in Minnesota today. He reminded the audience that these extraordinary men and women are all around the community. 

“They may not wear the uniform any more, but they continue to be an integral part in serving our community,” Vogl said. 

After Vogl’s speech, the band and choir played the medley for each of the armed forces. Veterans were invited to stand, if able, when the song for their branch was played. Students were also invited to stand if they had close family serving in any of the branches. 

Big Lake

Big Lake’s Veterans Day presentation took place at Liberty Elementary School, and was broadcast to other schools.  

Principal Caryl Gordy reminded the audience that Liberty served the youngest learners, and so encouraged the assembled students, grades K-2, to sit quietly and respectfully while local veterans presented the colors. After this, the students watched a video explaining what a veteran is and why Veterans Day is celebrated. 

After this, the second graders put on an excellent performance, doing a song and dance about their gratitude for veterans. The audience of veterans and their families gave the class a standing ovation for their hard work.

Finally, Principal Gordy said that students from the school have worked very hard to assemble bags that would be donated to the county veterans affairs department. These bags would be given to veterans who are being taken to appointments. They include several useful things to have on hand at a doctor’s appointment, including, among other things, a notepad, a pen, mints, and a handwritten note from each student thanking the veteran for his or her service.