Students, public, celebrate veterans’ service in Charles City ceremony

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

A patriotic and thankful Veterans Day ceremony was held Monday morning in the Comet Gym at Charles City Middle School, as the middle school and high school students and staff joined with 60 to 70 members of the public, including a couple of dozen veterans, to honor service and celebrate freedom.

In addition to traditional music such as the national anthem by the Rhymes With Orange Jazz Choir, “Armed Forces on Parade” by the high school symphonic band and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” by the concert choir, highlights included six members of the student body telling why they had decided to join the military, and representatives of Retrieving Freedom demonstrating how the dogs they train can help veterans and others.

Laurie Hart, a senior, said she decided to join the Army out of a desire to serve and because she had grown up in a family where many members served or are serving. That includes her brother, in the Army, and her mother, who was in the National Guard.

“I chose to take advantage of all the great opportunities in the Army, and decided to be part of something bigger than myself,” she said.

Marissa Gallup, a junior, recently joined the Iowa National Guard. She said she “has always looked up to soldiers and had an eye for serving our country.”

“I also joined to improve who I am as a person, mentally and physically, and to help me become the person that I want to be,” she said.

Mitz Concepcion said he and his family moved to America from the Philippines when he was 5, and living here has allowed him to experience many great things, such as an opportunity for a better education, safety and overall a better life.

“I joined the National Guard to serve locally and internationally. I want to give back to this country that has given me everything I know and have received,” he said, adding that his brother and two cousins had also enlisted.

Elliot Sinwell, a senior, said he decided to enlist in the Iowa National Guard over the summer because he believes it will provide more opportunities and will help him become “the best version of myself.”
He said his brother and other family members are currently serving, and that also provided motivation for him to enlist.

Dajon Richard, a senior, said he joined the Army because he didn’t really know what he wanted to do after high school. He said talking to Army recruiters in Mason City helped him understand what benefits he can get from service, including character-building.

“I know I will really get to know my morals, values, and strengths and weaknesses, and what sets me apart from others,” he said.

Brahiam Rios said he joined the National Guard because of the options it will give him in the future. He said his parents came to America from Mexico to live a safer and better life, and living here has given him the opportunity to meet great people and get a great education, and has given him freedom and liberty.

“I enlisted because I want to repay what this country has given to me,” he said.

The guest speaker at the ceremony was Keegan Birkicht, the Iowa unit director for Retrieving Freedom Inc., who explained some of the things the program’s trained support animals can do.

Sara Shadid, program coordinator, helped demonstrate the actions with Tilly, a Labrador retriever who has passed through all three stages of training and is starting to meet with veterans to decide who may be her potential new owner.

Birkicht said a trained service dog can help a veteran deal with stress, safety concerns, brain injuries and physical disabilities.

Retrieving Freedom trains dogs — mostly Labradors — to help veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder and injuries sustained during their service, as well as children with autism.

“Dogs are very loyal, they’re very happy,” Birkicht said. “I think there’s a lot we can learn from dogs. We can learn loyalty, we can learn respect, to live in the moment, and to be grateful for the little things.
“They love unconditionally and they don’t judge,” she said.

Pastor Russ Leeper of St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church gave the closing reflection, saying he was grateful to be in the presence of so many heros.

He said he was there Monday morning not just as a local pastor, but as a family member and friend of many who had served or are still serving.

Leeper said that, in addition to thanking veterans for their service, people need to live lives that are worthy of the sacrifice and service veterans have given.

“Words are good, applause is great, but we need to do more than that,” he said. “You have the freedom to say whatever you want to say. Say thank-you to the veterans for that freedom by saying things that build us up rather than tear us down.

“You have the freedom to go wherever you want to go. Say thank-you to the veterans for that freedom by going to the places where you can serve and help others as well.

“You have the freedom to dream big dreams and to pursue whatever goals you want to pursue. Thank the veterans by pursuing goals that make your life better and the lives of the people around you better.

“You have the freedom to worship God and to pray in any way that you want. Thank the veterans for that freedom. Don’t throw that freedom away. Pray and worship in the way that’s right for you,” Leeper said.