The nation’s veterans were honored throughout the Gallatin Valley and the state Wednesday with ceremonies at schools, luncheons, dinners and other gatherings.
Three Forks High School honored the nation’s veterans Wednesday by hosting a Veterans Day program complete with performances from several elementary classes.
From kindergarten to high school, students sang songs, waved flags and held up candles in support of the veterans.
A member of the U.S. Navy, Julie Frank, spoke about her experience arriving back home in the states.
“We just got back from a seven and a half month deployment from Iraq and Afghanistan. Our morale was pretty low because we were cut off from the rest of the world for about seven and a half months. And then all of the sudden we heard a horn honk, and as we heard the horn honk we looked at the highway and every car on the highway had stopped and started honking their horns. People started running out of their houses and someone got into a little paddle boat and paddled out next to the ship with an American flag, and as I looked to my left and looked to my right everybody was crying, and I got tears in my eyes, because we realized why we were out there for so long,” Frank said.
Veterans were honored at other events and ceremonies throughout the Gallatin Valley as well.
Stud Terkel's “The Good War,” which includes first person stories of World War II and its impact on the people who fought it in the trenches and on the homefront, was part of the intergenerational Veteran’s Day remembrance at the Museum of the Rockies.
On Wednesday, actors portrayed the real life trials, tribulations and tragedies that embodied America's all encompassing and all-consuming battle.
Some of the people that lived those tales gathered at the Belgrade Senior Center Wednesday to eat, reminisce and say thank you to those who have fought for the nation's freedom.
Among those who gathered at the senior center were a group of home schooled children who came out on their own volition to say thank you to the veterans. Their mother and teacher was inspired by a similar thank you ceremony where she realized that she had never expressed her gratitude to a soldier in all her life, an experience she though her kids should have sooner than she so they would understand that their freedom is not free.
Senator Jon Tester marked Veteran's Day with stops across the state, including Bozeman and Manhattan. This evening, the senator is meeting with area veterans at the Museum of the Rockies from 5 to 6:15 p.m. He will then be at Manhattan High School from 7 to 8 p.m.
Tester says veterans have done their part and he's working hard to make sure Congress holds up its end of the bargain.
“Because it's our patriotic duty as Americans to make sure that nobody who defends us is forced to go it alone, whether in the field or here at home,” Tester said.
The Gallatin County Republican Women held their annual tribute to veterans luncheon Wednesday at the Bozeman Holiday Inn. Veterans were honored and received a free lunch.
The Filling Station is hosting a Veteran's Day mini-memorial and complimentary buffet dinner donated by valley merchants and hosted by the Frye family. The dinner runs from 6 to 8 p.m.
Elsewhere in the state, Senator Max Baucus stopped in Great Falls for Veteran's Day.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, Baucus said Montanans proudly volunteer for military service at rates higher than any state in the country.
So far, 40 Montanans have died and 250 have been wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, the highest per capita than any other state.
The senator went on to name the fallen and where they came from, including his nephew Phillip Baucus and Army Sgt. Travis Arndt and Army Sgt. Travis Atkins of Bozeman, Marine Lance Corporal Nicholas William Bloem of Belgrade, and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles V. Komppa of Belgrade.
“The list pains me to read out loud. I can not imagine how many broken hearts there are,” Baucus said. “To all of Montana's families staring at an empty bedroom or an empty chair at the dining room table: You will always be in my thoughts and prayers. I pledge to do all that I can to honor your fallen loved ones.To Montana's fallen warriors: We will never forget.”
Gov. Brian Schweitzer issued a statement thanking veterans and saying, “We owe a great deal to those who have protected our nation and continue to defend our democracy, individual freedom, justice, equality, and opportunity."
“Today is a day to remember, a day to reflect on the challenges that continue to face our veterans and those still proudly serving their country and answering the challenges faced by our nation. All of us should commit ourselves to supporting our veterans, soldiers and their families in the communities across our state. By writing a letter, sending a package, checking on a neighbor or visiting a nursing home we can all make a difference and show our support for their service,” Schweitzer said in the statement.
Congressman Denny Rehberg also issued a statement saying, "We owe our veterans a debt that can never be fully repaid."
Rehberg says to remember those who served, are still missing and the brave men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion to our country and the cause of liberty. Their sacrifices and the sacrifices of their families are too great to be measured in words of thanks or medals of valor, honor their service by caring for their future needs and the needs of their loved ones, he said.
The following Montanans were killed while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom:
• Army Sergeant Travis M. Arndt , 23, Bozeman
• Army Staff Sergeant Travis W. Atkins, 31, Bozeman
• My nephew, Marine Corporal Phillip E. Baucus, 28, Wolf Creek
• Army Staff Sergeant Shane R. Becker, 35, Helena
• Marine Private 1st Class Andrew D. Bedard, 19, Missoula
• Marine Lance Corporal Nicholas William B. Bloem, 20, Belgrade
• Army Private 1st Class Kyle G. Bohrnsen, 22, Philipsburg
• Army Lieutenant Colonel Garnet R. Derby, 44, Missoula
• Army Sergeant Scott D. Dykman, 27, Helena
• Army Specialist Michael Frank, 36, Great Falls
• Marine Lance Corporal Kane Michael Funke, 20, Kalispell
• Army Staff Sergeant Yance T. Gray, 26, Ismay
• Army Staff Sergeant Aaron N. Holleyman, 26, Glasgow
• Army Private Timothy J. Hutton, 21, Dillon
• Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Charles V. Komppa, 35, Belgrade
• Army Corporal Troy C. Linden, 22, Billings
• Army Captain Michael J. Mackinnon, 30, Helena
• Army Sergeant James A. McHale, 31, Fairfield
• Army Master Sergeant Robbie D. McNary, 42, Lewistown
• Marine Lance Corporal Jeremy Scott Sandvick Monroe, 20, Chinook
• Army Private 1st Class Shawn M. Murphy, 24, Butte
• Marine Lance Corporal Nick J. Palmer, 19, Great Falls
• Army Captain Andrew R. Pearson, 32, Billings
• Marine Corporal Dean P. Pratt, 22, Stevensville
• Army Specialist James Daniel Riekena, 22, Missoula
• Army 1st Lieutenant Edward M. Saltz, 27, Bigfork
• Army Private Daren A. Smith, 19, Helena
• Marine Corporal Raleigh C. Smith, 21, Troy
• Marine Corporal Stewart S. Trejo, 25, Whitefish
• Army Private 1st Class Owen D. Witt, 20, Sand Springs
• Army Specialist Donald M. Young, 19, Helena
• Army Private Matthew T. Zeimer, 18, Glendive
The following Montanans were killed while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom:
• Navy Aviation Electronics Technician Andrew S. Charpentier, 21, Great Falls
• Army 1st Lieutenant Joshua M. Hyland, 31, Missoula
• Marine Sergeant Trevor Johnson, 23, Colstrip
• Army Sergeant Terry Lynch, 22, Shepherd
• Army Private 1st Class Kristofer T. Stonesifer, 28, Missoula
The following Montanans died shortly after returning home from Operation Iraqi Freedom:
• Army Corporal Christopher M. Dana, 23, Helena
• Army Sergeant George Kellum, 23, Lame Deer
With reporting by Adam Bell and Mark Martello
