MARSHALL — Veterans all have their own experiences and stories – but they share an important bond with each other, said Lyon County Veterans Services Officer Heidi Fier.

“Veterans Day is much like a family reunion. Former and current military members come together and share stories, even if they are strangers,” Fier said. “The stories are much the same, and the camaraderie is strong. And the tears and the laughter are very real.”

Fier was one of the local speakers who took part in Veterans Day ceremonies in Marshall on Friday and Saturday. At programs at Marshall High School and the Adult Community Center, speakers reflected on their experiences as veterans, and encouraged community members to work to uphold American freedoms.

“Today really is a day to pay tribute to the generations of men and women who have served and sacrificed,” Sgt. KaLea Swenson told an assembly of Marshall High School students on Friday. Those sacrifices weren’t necessarily just for a person or a place, Swenson said. They were for the freedoms that people in the United States have.

During Friday’s program, Swenson shared her experiences joining the Army National Guard at the age 17, and being deployed to the Middle East at 22.

“It was my first encounter with a world that was radically different than my own,” she said. Her experiences shaped her perspective on the United States.

“Witnessing other cultures and customs, and the struggles of those who face oppression, was a stark reality check that really did leave an impact on me,” Swenson said. “It helped me realize that freedom is not just an abstract concept. It’s a privilege, it’s something we should never take for granted.”

During a Marshall community program on Saturday, Fier said entering into military life was a journey that all veterans had shared. While every service member had their own reasons for joining the military, they all formed bonds and became brothers and sisters in uniform, Fier said.

“Some veterans had combat roles, while others had support roles. But we were all a team with one purpose, and that was to protect our loved ones at home, our nation and all it stands for,” Fier said.

Fier said veterans also shared the experience of going back to the “unfamiliar yet familiar territory” of returning to civilian life. Veterans’ experiences gave them a new perspective on what patriotism really meant, Fier said.

“Veterans are patriots. But patriotism cannot be taught. It must be felt,” she said. “Patriotism is measured in love for what you believe in, love for those around you, love and humility for yourself. A patriot gives. He or she doesn’t take, and they serve in whatever manner they can to continue to make this country great.”

Both Fier and Swenson said area residents had responsibilities towards veterans, and toward their nation. Fier said Americans can defend freedom through actions like community volunteering, and educating children.

“If we want to preserve our freedoms, we must put them into action,” she said.

Swenson called on students to support organizations that provide vital resources, like health care, education and job opportunities, for veterans.

“And perhaps the most meaningful way we can honor veterans is by living lives that reflect the values they have defended – freedom, equality and justice,” Swenson said. “We have the responsibility to be active, engaged citizens who work toward a brighter future for everyone.”