West Bend, WI – Neighbors in West Bend pulled up their collars and donned gloves and earmuffs as a brisk wind out of the west welcomed guests as they gathered in front of the Old Courthouse on Fifth Avenue for the traditional Veterans Day program – “at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.”
The short 15-minute program featured a brief statement, followed by a moment of silence.
Veterans Day 2024 speech below by John Kleinmaus
Thank you all for coming out today and joining us for this Veterans Day observance. Many people stay home, enjoy their day off from work or school, or are out doing other things; and in a way that’s only fitting. After all we live in a free country.
But that’s what makes your presence here even more meaningful, because you appreciate our American way of life … you understand the commitment of democratic government, and you know that the freedom we enjoy today is not free. The true cost of that freedom is a price most can’t even fathom, but it is a price that will be paid as long as brave men and women choose freedom over evil and tyranny.
Veterans Day is not for veterans alone. When we served our country, we did not serve to fulfill personal interests; we served the national interests of the United States of America, and that’s why this day isn’t just for us veterans alone. It’s a day for the entire country to celebrate its freedom and honor all those who have served.
As a veteran, I stand before you with a sense of pride, humility and gratitude. I’ve been where many of you and our fellow service members have been, serving our great country with unwavering dedication, yet facing the many challenges that come with it. Today, I want to focus on the importance of Veterans Day, not only from my perspective as a member of the West Bend Veterans Honor Guard, but also the collective duty we as U.S. citizens share in honoring our veterans and ensuring the true meaning of this day is not forgotten.
Today is a day for every citizen to remember and honor the sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. It is important to celebrate the service of all of our veterans: Those who fought during time of war and those who fought to maintain the peace.
We need to take a few moments to recognize the men and women who are serving in today’s active-duty military, Guard and Reserve who, as we meet are doing everything they can to defend and preserve freedom and liberty.
The sacrifices and accomplishments made by today’s generation of patriots are many, and their dedication to our way of life and the values our country was founded upon,  serve as a reminder that tyranny and evil will never prevail.
The lessons taught by what veterans have provided all of us should never be forgotten. It’s up to each of us to keep the legacy of our nation’s veterans alive, to make sure the same spirit and faith in democracy carries through so that future generations will also celebrate the unity, courage, valor and singleness of purpose that is the strength of a free nation.
Veterans Day holds a special place in my heart, as it does for all who have worn the uniform of our great nation. It is a day that reminds us of the commitment we made to defend the principles of freedom, liberty and justice. It is a day when we reflect on the time spent away from home … the bonds formed with our brothers and sisters-in-arms, and the sacrifices made on both our native and foreign shores to protect the American way of life and aid those striving to safeguard their own freedoms.
We must work to remind our nation that Veterans Day isn’t just another holiday on the calendar; it is a profound reminder of not only the commitment and courage of all those who have served, but of the painstakingly high cost of freedom paid by those who have selflessly sacrificed for us.
As a veteran, I want to help ensure that the importance of Veterans Day is understood by all. And I encourage everyone here to engage in thoughtful conversations, to share your experiences and participate in community events that raise awareness and honor our military and veteran community. We must make it our shared mission to educate and remind future generations that at its core, the American spirit is defined by resilience, selflessness and commitment.
Today’s world is often hyper focused on division, and Veterans Day provides us an opportunity to remember that despite different beliefs and lifestyles, our desire for a better life has always united us.
Every veteran that has proudly worn the uniform of our nation has served alongside countless individuals from differing backgrounds who may even have had opposing viewpoints or opinions and yet, all veterans put aside those differences to focus on the intrinsic values of freedom and liberty that bring us together.
To my brothers and sisters-in-arms here, and veterans all around the world, I wish you a happy Veterans Day and a sincere and heartfelt, THANK YOU
At 11 a.m., sirens sounded and the West Bend Veterans Honor Guard fired the traditional three round volley followed by the playing of Taps.
West Bend Veterans Honor Guard
Photos courtesy Gail Anderson.
