TURNER — Standing in front of students at Tripp Middle School, veteran Harris Bradeen asked how many had a family member in the military.

A sea of arms shot up.

“Wow. This is great,” said Bradeen, commander of American Legion, Turner Post 111. “We want to thank your relatives for their service.”

Behind Bradeen, in front of the assembly, sat a group of local veterans, special guests Thursday as students honored them, learned history from them and observed that Veterans Day is coming up.

Local veterans Marcel Gagne, Ron Morin, Scott Honaker, Fred Leadbetter, Ed Lepage, John Arseneault, Dale Bryant and Guy Mahon attended the event.

Bradeen played the role of teacher, explaining how Veterans Day is observed at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month, the time when a cease-fire ended World War I.

“We’re here to provide you with a better understanding of what, and who, is a veteran,” Bradeen said. “We’ve lived what most of you have read about in history books.”

They and millions of other veterans won World War II, fought in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. Service members don’t go to war “because they love fighting,” Bradeen said. “They were called to be a part of something bigger than themselves.” Veterans who fought watched friends die.

Awards, medals and names etched on monuments memorialize those friends, “but nothing can replace the hole left by a fallen service member,” Bradeen said. Veterans Day is a small way to honor those who didn’t come home.

Army Sgt. First Class Kris Romero, who served a 16-month deployment in Afghanistan and is a recruiter in Portland, looked at the elderly veterans and said, “Thank you. If it weren’t for you, our generation wouldn’t be here today.”

After students recited poems, listened to speeches and sang the national anthem and “America the Beautiful,” dozens of students came out of the bleachers, shook hands and handed out letters they had written to veterans.

Army veteran Ed Lepage stood with a handful of letters, one from student Jacob Vieu, who wrote, “I’m glad you’re here.” The student thanked Lepage “for all the hardships you went through to keep the country free.” He shook Lepage’s hand.

The letters mean a lot, Lepage said. “It’s terrific. For veterans to think we’re remembered, it’s a high point for us.”

Lepage said he was at the gas station the other day wearing a cap indicating he was a veteran. “A high school kid comes up and says, ‘Thank you for your service.’ It makes you think.”

Navy vet Scott Honiker, whose grandson attends Tripp Middle School, agreed. “This is great for the young kids. It lets them see what life is about, gives them respect for the military.”

The Veterans Day assembly was organized by social studies teachers Mary Learned, Renee Davis and Mike Thibodeau. It allows students to thank veterans and understand “the significance of what people did historically for our country,” Learned said.

The assembly ended with the playing of taps. Bradeen said he would be honored if students joined veterans saluting the fallen while the bugle call played.

Students stood and saluted.

bwashuk@sunjournal.com

http://blog.theveteranssite.com/watch-i-fought-for-you/