White: Vets do ‘extraordinary things’
Veterans Day ceremony moved indoors because of cold temperatures
Sterling’s Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion chapters held a brief Veterans Day ceremony Friday morning. The observance, normally held in Columbine Park, was moved indoors to the former Colorado National Guard armory across the street from the park because of cold weather.
Legion Commander Joe Notario opened the ceremony by thanking those who attended. Sterling VFW Chaplain Fred Kubitz delivered the invocation and Celeste Delgado-pelton sang the National Anthem a capella.
Northeastern Junior College President Mike White delivered a brief keynote address. White, who is a retired U.S. Navy admiral, talked about the sacrifice of those who serve and of their families. Military service often involves long periods of separation during deployments overseas. White told the small crowd that veterans often are “ordinary people who have done extraordinary things.”
Chaplain Kubitz offered the benediction. A combined American Legion and VFW honor guard rendered a 21-round salute and Chuck Mansuetti, who
played trumpet when he was in the Navy from 1958 to 1961, played “Taps” on a muted trumpet.
Originally known as Armistice Day, the federal holiday is observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day, which are celebrated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I.