Vets honored for service, sacrifices

366th Fighter Wing commander Col. James Browne offered a history of Veteran's Day while serving as the featured speaker during a chilly Tuesday ceremony at Mountain View Cemetery.

"In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Veteran's Day as Armistice Day, expressing pride in the heroism of those who had died during what they believed was the 'war to end all wars'.

In the wake of World War II and the Korean War, Armistice Day was renamed Veteran's Day."

Veteran's Day is a day that is dedicated to all those who have answered their nation's call to the profession of arms, Browne said.

"In Mountain Home and across America, veterans are often the backbone of their communities... always willing to make a contribution, they become active civic leaders and many stand as role models for our youth."

Browne urged the audience to not forget the dedication and devotion of their veteran's families, saying they also should receive the gratitude given to the veterans for the sacrifices they have made for this nation.

"I hope you will remember that the men and women of America's armed forces serve a great cause. They follow in a great tradition, handed down to them by America's veterans. And for this, we owe them a great debt of gratitude. Not just today, but everyday."

In his speech introducing Browne, Mountain Home Mayor Tom Rist noted, "In Mountain Home, the personal sacrifice made by our military men and women and their families isn't simply a great idea, it's a part of our daily life."

Rist talked about how at city hall, deptuty city clerk Lynnette Caraway and deputy city treasurer Paula Szafranski "bravely held down the home front" while their husbands were deployed (or currently are deployed) to Iraq.

According to Rist, currently in Idaho over 137,000 residents are military veterans, representing over ten percent of Idaho's adult population.

"Because of our proximity to the Air Force base, I've been lucky enough to become good friends with people of the highest caliber who dedicated their lives to protecting our country," said Rist.

The event's master of ceremonies was Tom Coester, American Legion Post No. 26 commander and state vice commander of area B.

Coester discussed about how Veteran's Day is a day to remember how men and women, "set aside their civilian pursuits to serve the nation's cause, defending the freedom of mankind and preserving our precious American heritage."

Coester then called for the presentation of wreathes, a ceremony to honor those veterans who gave their lives for a noble cause.

The wreaths were presented by representatives from War Mothers, Mothers of the Military, the Marine Corps League, 11th Airborne Division, VFW Post No. 9585 and Auxiliary, 40 and 8, American Legion Post No. 101 and Auxiliary, American Legion Post No. 26 and Auxiliary, Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary, and, for the first time, the Mountain Home Elks Lodge, represented by Bill and Amy Thurber from Lodge #2276.

Following the wreath presentation, honor guard members from Post 26, and members of the Disabled American Veterans presented the colors and took part in the traditional 21-shot salute honoring their fallen comrades.

In attendance for the event, were more than 100 Gunfighters, all volunteers from Mountain Home Air Force Base, who stood in formation during the entire ceremony,.

"It was a great service. We would like to thank the men and the women of the community for coming out, especially Col. Browne, who is a dynamic speaker and a great member of the community. Also, Mayor Rist who's a great supporter of the veterans in our community," said Coester.

following the ceremony.

"It was certainly a very nice turnout and I'm extremely pleased at the number of military servicemen and civilians who came out today to honor our veterans," Rist added after the ceremony.

"I would like to thank the community of Mountain Home, and to all of the Gunfighters who took part in the ceremony. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our veterans and it's only fitting we have a day like this to remember them," Browne said.