Veterans honored at ceremony

MONTROSE — Active and veteran soldiers, families and residents of all ages gathered at Grand View Cemetery to pay tribute on Veterans Day on Tuesday.

“It’s the reason we’re free,” said Bill Minerich, vice senior commander of District 11.

As attendees walked through the cemetery before the ceremony began, visible were tombstones for veterans of all kinds — World War I and II, Vietnam, Korea. They came from all of the branches of the military, including the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard.

The ceremony began with a reciting of the essay “You could hear a pin drop,” which honored all soldiers. Col. James Beard (Ret.), who served 42 and a half years including a stint in the U.S. Army Special Forces/ Green Beret, was the keynote speaker of the day and delivered a powerful speech on the importance of the military and concluded with saluting his fellow veterans.

Beard said as a ranking officer, he was forced with the difficult task of sending his troops into battle, knowing they might not return.

“It was not an easy thing to do,” Beard said. “People who have died, you don’t forget them. They stay with you for your life. We have so much to be thankful for.”

Beard said it was important that Americans be thankful for the men and women who serve the country, including the youth who have served in the recent war in Iraq.

The ceremony continued with four RV private aircraft flying over the service, first in a diamond. The planes returned a few minutes later in a “missing man” formation, in which the third plane in the formation pulls out and travels west in honor of fallen soldiers. The planes flew over the ceremony as the song “TAPS” was performed. Beard said the song was beautiful.

The ceremony was a success in the attendees eyes, who applauded at its end and shed tears.

“It was very nice,” said Montrose resident and ceremony attendee Shirley Leonard. “There are too many people who don’t appreciate the veterans and military and they need to.”

Beard said he was happy to honor veterans of all kind.

“I love my country,” Beard said.

Montrose High School’s Veteran Day Assembly was canceled due to a knifing incident that occurred Tuesday morning.