001[Music] Come on. [Music] Come on. Heat. Yeah. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Hello. [Music] Good morning. On behalf of the Shack Warehouser High School Middle School, we would like to welcome our guests and we would certainly like to thank our veterans who have served and cons continue to serve this great country. Let's give our veterans a round of applause. [Applause] It is truly an honor and a privilege to be able to gather here today to recognize those men and women who have served our country and continue to serve our country. Students, I just want to remind you on this important day. It's really important that we show our veterans our respect um throughout the entire program. Um we will have an opportunity to listen to some different stories for those who have served. will
002have an opportunity to present and recognize the different colors that represent uh this wonderful nation. At this time, I would like to welcome our 2025 2026 student council president to get our ceremony started this morning, Miss Casey Evans. [Applause] Good morning, students, staff, honored veterans, and members of our community. My name is Casey Evans, this year's student council president, and it's an honor of mine to stand before you and welcome you all to today's ceremony. Today, we come together to recognize and thank the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving our country in the United States Armed Forces. Veterans Day is a moment to pause, reflect, and express our gratitude to those who have dedicated their lives to protecting the freedoms that we enjoy every single day. When we think of our veterans,
003we think of courage, selflessness, and commitment. These are the people who stepped forward when their country needed them the most and who faced challenges so others could live in peace and safety. Whether they served here at home or overseas or in times of war or times of peace, every veteran has played a part in shaping the strength and spirit of our nation. To our veterans here with us today, we say thank you. Your bravery, sacrifice, and devotion have not gone unnoticed. Because of you, we are free to learn, to speak, to grow, and to dream. Your service reminds us that freedom is not something that we can ever take for granted, but rather is something earned and protected by the actions of people like you. Students, as we listen to today's speakers, I hope that
004you think about what Veterans Day truly means. It's not just a date on the calendar, but rather it's a reminder of the values that unite us, such as honor, service, respect, and gratitude. These values are the foundation of our country and they are carried on through each generation when we remember and appreciate those who came before us. We are also thankful for the families of our veterans, the parents, spouses, children, and loved ones who supported them while they served. Their strength and sacrifice are a powerful part of this day as well. Now, it is my privilege to introduce Mr. Robert Lund, who will be presenting the colors and speaking with us this morning. Mr. Lund is a proud veteran whose dedication to both his country and his community serves as a true example of leadership
005and service. Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Mr. Robert London. We now have a color guard. Color guard post the colors. All right. [Music] Please stay standing now for the star sprinkle. [Music] By the dawn early light, what so proud we [Music] fight for the We watch so when the rockets [Music] bursting in it through the night [Applause] there. Oh, say does that are spangled yet [Music] for the land of the free and the home of God. [Applause] Now defending uncovered and join me in the innovation. We gather today with grateful hearts to honor the men and women of our armed forces who have served our nation. We ask your blessings on all our veterans past and present. For those who have given their lives, we pray for their eternal rest. Those
006currently serving, we pray for their courage, strength, and protection. For those who have returned, we pray for their continued health and well-being. For healing from the physical, mental, and spiritual wounds of service. Bless their families and our loved ones who have also made great sacrifices. Guide us in finding new ways to support our veterans and their families. And we never take for granted the freedom they have so bravely protected. Amen. I'll have homework bound by the court. [Music] When the moons [Music] sing, when the sky is clear and ceases, when the past lost its meaning, Call me home without me to the passure. Ch my call to you somehow. If you're hoping to go [Music] and turn me as my journey Burning near it end [Music] the path of feathering [Music] on to the me
007to the set me free to find my calling. I'll return to him [Music] when [Music] they're singing. [Music] The home were found. [Music] You will now have an explanation of veterary [Music] offer students, staff and faculty. My name is Alec Kramer Ruff, graduate of CW class of 2024 and a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. When Mr. Nelson reached out to me and asked if I could be willing to speak here today, I was honored. As a proud soldier of Wisconsin Army National Guard, it is my privilege to speak with you today Veterans Day, originally known as Armistice Day since 1919, has been observed as a federal holiday on the 11th of November every year. As we gather here to observe this day, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on its meaning
008and its history. Veterans Day as we know it today is a day set aside to honor all US military veterans. Those who have served in wartime and peace time in every branch of the military. It was first observed on November 11th, 1919 to commendate the end of World War I when an armistice agreement was signed between the allies and Germany, bringing the end to fighting on the 11th hour, 11th day, the 11th month. This day was originally intended to honor the veterans of World War I, also commonly referred to as a war to end all wars. However, as time went on and new wars and conflicts arise, it became clear that all veterans, not just those of World War I, deserved recognition. In 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, the name of
009the holiday was officially changed to Veterans Day in order to honor all American veterans living in deceased from all wars. So today, as we reflect on this, what this day means, let's not think not only about the service of our veterans, but about the responsibility we have to support them, to offer them not only our thanks, but our care and our respect, our commitment to their well-being. They've given so much to us, we have a duty to continue standing with them long after their service has ended. I'm honored to have been chosen to come here today and reflect upon the meaning of Veterans Day with you once again. Thank you. [Applause] Good morning everyone and thank you all for being here today. My name is Danielle Becker and I am this year's student council vice
010president. It is my privilege and honor to introduce someone very special to me in this country, my stepfather, Alan Milton. Allan began his service when he was just 19 years old, bravely joining the United States Navy. He served from 1980 to 1984 as a single man on the ship's deck, ranking as secondclass petty officer. Throughout his service, Allan showed a kind of diligence, patience, and determination that didn't just define his time in uniform. They defined who he is every day. Whether navigating challenges at sea or supporting his family here at home, he brings a sort of leadership and strength that inspire all of those around him. Today, as we gather to honor all of those who have served, I want to personally thank Allan, not just for his military service, but for the integrity, heart,
011and guidance he continues to show even after his time in uniform. Please join me in the welcoming and thanking Navy veteran Alan Molton. Good morning. I didn't realize I was the only speaker. I thought all these guys speaking today. So, I'm really really honored to be here today. Um, thank you everybody for coming and I'm just surprised. So, I made up some notes. Um, like Danielle said, I went into the Navy in 1980. I graduated here in 1979, not by a large margin, and didn't want to look. I wanted to do something with my life. I didn't know what it was and it was the perfect thing for me to get into the Navy. I uh went to boot camp at Great Lakes. Uh spent I think it was nine weeks there. Then I went
012to Orlando to Signalman a school. Became a signalman. Got on a LPD that carries 2,000 Marines. I didn't know how much that would shape my life, but it really did. And um some of the things that it really taught me was mom and dad can't help me anymore and I have to listen. And I'll tell you what, you learn some of the values. You learn loyalty. You learn duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, personal courage, work ethic, and accountability. And all of those things were taught to me by the Navy. What I didn't realize is how much they would carry the rest of my life. I was I'm a pilot. That's my job. Was my job. I retired in July from the flying aspect of being a pilot. But I ran a company of I
013think there were 17 people in my flight department and seven aircraft. and every one of them asked me to stay this last July. That meant something to me. Um, some of the things that uh I also learned for work was discipline. You learn discipline in the service and you need it. It's why a lot of us are sometimes hard to get along with. But uh you learn teamwork, leadership, adaptability, and problem solving, personal growth, and specialized skills. Now, Sigleman didn't do anything for me other than taught me more code, and nobody uses it. But it did teach me how to work with others under duress. That dress would come in Beirut, Lebanon in 1982 and 83. And that's where I saw how people act when things don't go as planned. And I'll tell you what,
014as 17, 18, 19 year old kids that were getting blown up, to see the other kids come in and take care of everything. We became brothers that day. And it didn't matter if you were a Marine or if you were in the Navy, the Air Force. I mean, I saw everything. There was another kid from here. His dad was just passed away. um path uh path boy. He was also there when I was there. And so um I can't remember his first name now, but that was Jim's Jim's son. So getting back to right out of high school, I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do, you know, and like I said, school really wasn't a good thing for me. So college was out of the out of the picture for me. So, what
015I did do is when I got to the Navy, I decided I wanted to be a pilot and I took the ground school in the Navy and they paid for it. They were more than happy to teach me be a pilot. However, they wouldn't pay for the aircraft rental. And at $41 a month, you can't rent a lot of airplanes. So, I waited until I got out of the service to to pursue the flying aspect of it. That also has taken me all over the world. And what I'd like you guys to get from the veterans here, very few of these veterans stayed in the United States for their careers. Most of them got to travel. Get out and see the world. Okay? Don't be afraid to go and see other countries, other people, how
016they live. talk to and enjoy it because we have the greatest country in the world. Even as a pilot, I traveled all over. I've never found a country as great as the United States. And I guarantee you, every one of these veterans totally agrees with you. It is the best country. Treat it like it's the best country to get out and see the world. You can learn so much. And I can't even tell you what I've learned from other people. It helps me. I'm sorry. It helps me today in how I deal with people. Okay. Um, some of the oceans that I was in, the North Atlantic, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and one two are in the Indian Ocean. And I'll tell you what, the North Atlantic is the only one I didn't really enjoy.
017Most everybody was sick the whole time. All the others were very beautiful. It was a great way to get to see the country, you know, and and I think the Navy still hiring. Um, I didn't know any money when I got out of the service. It taught me financial success because you don't get much money. So, and back then we really didn't have a lot of credit cards. And so, um, in closing, the one thing I would like to say is if you want to honor veterans throughout the whole year, every Friday, wear red. That stands for remember everyone deployed. Never forget that there are people that are not going to be home with their families over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and so on so forth. I try to wear red every Friday and I'd like to
018see the kids start doing it too for all those veterans. Um, and that goes until everybody's home. So, that's all I got. Thank you again for coming. Well, it's also right and Red Friday is a big thing. All right, we'll now hear from our America the Beautiful by Elijah Jordan and [Music] Christmas. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Good morning. [Music] We relearn. [Music] [Applause] Thank you for that. >> All right, we now have our gun salute by Brad Larson. Good ride. Three, [Music] [Applause] [Music] Please standing one hand on cover please. May the grace of God be with all of us as we leave here today. Bless all the veterans that they may find peace and rest. Bless their family that they may know comfort and strength. Bless us, the people of this nation, that we may
019always remember their sacrifices and live in the freedom they fought to preserve. May the strength of God sustain you. May the power of God preserve you. May the hands of God protect you and may the way of God direct this day and forever more. Amen. >> Thank you everybody for [Music] There you go. order. All right. >> Thank you. [Music] This concludes today's ceremony. Mr. Nolton said it really well. He said that we live in the greatest country in the world and it's because of the men and women who have sacrificed uh the greatest sacrifice of all and for that we are indebted to their services. Let's give our veterans one more round of applause for [Applause] to our special guests, our community members, and also our veterans. We do have um some treats out
020in the lobby, so please stay after for some refreshments. Thank you for joining us today and also thank you for your service. At this time, middle school and high school students. We are still going to be in third period. We'll start uh dismissing our middle school students first. It looks like on that end we have our sixth graders. So, sixth graders, you may head back to your third period with your teachers. high school just remains for Alex, Alex.