Photo by Deb Gau Veterans’ Day ceremonies in Marshall included a moment of remembrance for area veterans who have died, and the sounding of “Taps.” As a precaution against COVID-19, this year the Veterans’ Day program in Marshall was held outdoors, at the new Veterans Memorial downtown.

MARSHALL — The circumstances were unusual. But honoring the nation’s veterans was a task too important for a pandemic to stop, said organizers of this year’s Veterans Day program in Marshall.

On Wednesday, members of the Marshall American Legion post and a small crowd of area residents gathered around the circle formed by the Veterans’ Memorial at Memorial Park. The ground was snowy, but there was plenty of space to spread out and hear poems, music and prayers for U.S. military service members.

“We felt we really had to have something to do to honor veterans,” said Legion member Bruce Fuhrmann. The downtown memorial offered the perfect opportunity. “It’s a beautiful park, and it’s for the veterans.”

In past years, local residents have observed Veterans Day with indoor programs at schools or the Adult Community Center. But the COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot of things this year. Holding a traditional program wouldn’t be possible, Legion members said.

“With COVID-19, you have to adapt,” Fuhrmann said.

Legion member Duane Stangeland said the post got together, and “We decided on our own we were going to do something today.”

The solution Legion members found was to head outside, to the Veterans’ Memorial. In addition to holding a simple ceremony for Veterans Day, community members also had a chance to honor military service members who had died in the past year. Reading the roll of the dead is usually done on Memorial Day.

“Normally we don’t want to mix the two holidays,” Quentin Brunsvold explained to community members. However, the pandemic also made it impossible to hold the traditional community memorial program in May, and organizers wanted to make sure area servicemen were remembered this year.

The program ended with the toll of a bell for each name, and the Legion Honor Guard firing a salute.

With a few inches of snow falling across the Marshall area on Tuesday evening, Legion members said they weren’t sure what to expect when they held Veterans Day observances. But Stangeland and fellow Legion member Brian Coudron said a little snow wouldn’t stop the ceremony. It was important to honor the sacrifices of service members no matter what, just like soldiers do for their country.

“They fight in whatever climate,” Stangeland said.