Cedar Rapids salutes veterans
Speakers emphasize passing on legacy of service, freedom
CEDAR RAPIDS — “We stand in the presence of living history.”
Master of ceremonies Dick Hogan spoke those words shortly before a three-volley salute at Monday’s Veterans Day service in downtown Cedar Rapids.
Veterans of wars over the past 80 years were among the scores in attendance at the Veterans Memorial Building, which will soon turn a century old. The New Horizons Band provided music, including a service song medley and “Fanfare Prelude on ‘God of Our Fathers.’”
Two World War II veterans were present. Mike Bisek, 101, was a photographer with the Army Air Forces in Europe. He remarked afterward that he can stand twice during armed forces medleys, since the Air Force was not split off as a separate branch until after the war. Vernon Christensen, 99, served on the Pacific front and was a guest on an Honor Flight in September.
Hogan acknowledged that veterans of 21st-century wars are not joining organizations such as the American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars at the same rate as their predecessors. He encouraged people who qualify to enroll.
David Schick was honored as Veteran of the Year. He served as a member of the Iowa National Guard. He was in Afghanistan and Kosovo when each held presidential elections and was proud to be on duty “when a nation chose its own way.” He also served stateside in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina and here in Iowa after a 2007 ice storm. While in Afghanistan — and he said this was half his father’s idea — he organized a clothing drive for children in the area. The Cedar Rapids area sent 2,200 pounds of warm clothes.
After leaving active duty, Schick said he found the same sense of mission in veterans organizations. He has been president of the Cedar Rapids Metro Veterans Council. He said he “could not be more grateful” for the award. “I believe that I was just doing my job, keeping the torch lit for the next generation.”
Marine Master Gunnery Sgt. (Ret.) Dustin Peterson was the guest speaker. He said he was nervous — what could he, at 44 years old, say to the much older veterans in the audience? He recalled an acronym he learned early on, ITTED: Identity, training, tradition, esprit de corps, and discipline. This is a time to focus on tradition, he said, and every branch of the military has a legacy.
“Today’s consumer goods are cheaply made, and most will not last more than a few years. Gone are the days of passing material goods on to the next generation. The one thing that we can still pass from one generation of service members to the next is the passion to carry on our patriotism, legacy, and mission of not letting down previous generations,” Peterson said.
Both Peterson and Hogan listed America’s various wars and the struggles that each generation went through, all in service to the United States. “You pass the torch of freedom from one generation to the next,” Hogan said, echoing Schick.
The three-volley salute was carried out at 11:11 a.m., which was significant as Armistice Day was originally created to mark the end of World War I in the 11th month, 11th day, at the 11th hour. Taps and a moment of silence followed. The Cedar Rapids Pipe Band played.
Area veterans were also honored Friday night in a concert by the Cedar Rapids Community Orchestra and Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale that featured many patriotic pieces. That concert ended with both the orchestra and chorale performing “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
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Wonderful column, Jeff, and the photos are equally as good. Your picture of those two World War II veterans together ought to be turned into a poster displayed around the nation! Thanks to all veterans for your service.