Hays pays homage to those who have served

By NICK BUDD
Hays Post

While most federal, state and local offices close for Veterans Day, the Hays VFW Post 9076 hosted their annual festivities Tuesday to honor those who have served their nation.

The ceremony began with the traditional 21-gun salute, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of the “Star Spangled Banner,” led by Fort Hays State University Professor of Music Terry Crull. Officials and attendees then honored the winner of their annual “Voices of Democracy” writing contest, Rebecca Stegman, who read her winning essay to the audience of nearly 150.

“Clearly, veterans are important to our past and to our future,” Stegman wrote. “Veterans are the reason that the Untied States is a free country today. They fought for our freedom and in many cases also died for it. … Above all, veterans made this country and they are the reason we are who we are. This is their country.”

Many of the speakers at the ceremony also honored those who are currently fighting in conflicts throughout the world, including those in Iraq and Syria against ISIS.

“Let us focus our thoughts of thanks to those who are spending this sacred day away from their families and friends. Those not on American soil, but in a foreign nation, proudly displaying Old Glory on their right arm,” said Post Commander Chris Stegman. “May they return home safely and may we always remember all of the freedoms that our veterans have secured for us.”

The featured speaker was Hays native Col. Jim Spiess, whose 30-plus year military career included stints with the Marines, Army National Guard and Army Reserves. During his time, he was deployed to conflicts in Vietnam, Iraq and the former Soviet Union.

Col. Jim Speiss Presents A WWII Veteran With A Medallion — Col. Jim Spiess Presents a WWII veteran with a medallion.

“Sadly, a lot of the veterans I visited with five years ago at this same ceremony are no longer with us,” Spiess said. “For our departed veterans, we know they are in God’s care, in his tender mercies and eternal love.”

Speiss also recited the Oath of Service along with all of the veterans that attended the ceremony. Post officials also honored approximately 20 World War II Veterans with medallions.