Local News

‘They answered the call’

Marshall residents observe Veterans Day

MARSHALL -- They come from all walks of life, and from different branches of the military. But all U.S. veterans have one thing in common: they served their country, speakers at local Veterans Day events said.

Programs honoring veterans were held around Marshall on Wednesday. Some of the Veterans Day events included programs at Marshall High School, and senior living facilities like Hill Street Place and Boulder Estates.

"Today we gather to honor a specific group of men and women who share a common thread: they answered the call of duty," said veteran and American Legion Honor Guard member Dan Markell, speaking during a program at Hill Street Place.

Veterans Day had its origins at the end of World War I, when it was known as Armistice Day, Markell said.

"On the 11th day, at the 11th hour, in the 11th month of 1918, the guns of World War I fell silent," he said. Armistice Day was later expanded to focus on all veterans.

"While Memorial Day is reserved for remembering those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in combat, Veterans Day is our opportunity to thank living veterans who served honorably in peacetime and in conflict," he said.

At both Hill Street Place and Boulder Estates, community members recognized individual veterans, and thanked them for their service. At Boulder Estates, veteran Byron Jasperson was also presented with a Quilt of Valor in recognition of his military service.

"Byron joined the National Guard in 1962," said presenter Bruce Fuhrmann. Jasperson served for nine years with the 47th Infantry Division of the Army National Guard. During his service, he supported troops who were returning from Vietnam, Fuhrmann said.

At MHS, students heard a talk from Sgt. Nathan Green, a Marshall resident who served in Iraq with the National Guard in 2004-05. Green said his experiences in military service solidified the importance of home and family for him.

Green was just about to graduate from college when he learned the National Guard unit from Marshall was being called to active duty. It started with a voicemail from a phone number he did not recognize.

"I listened to it, not realizing that it would be a voicemail that would change our lives forever," Green said.

The day Green left Minnesota with the National Guard was one of the hardest in his life. He didn't know whether it would be the last time he saw his family and loved ones, he said.

"From that moment forward, I've always tried to use the phrase 'see you later' rather than goodbye to remain positive," he said.

The National Guard unit traveled to New Jersey for training, and then to Baghdad, Iraq.

"The year was long, difficult and hot in Baghdad," Green said. American soldiers faced risks like car bombs, roadside bombs, rocket and mortar attacks.

Letters and video calls from family, and care packages with his mother's Special K bars, were all important reminders of home, Green said. The National Guard unit also had connections with southwest Minnesota and each other, which was something unique.

"We were not brought together from all over the country to form a unit, like most active duty units are," Green said. "We did not have to create that community. It came with us. Did this make Baghdad feel more like home? No, but the company and presence of these people made it feel more like a family."

At the end of their deployment, seeing hundreds of people in Marshall waiting for them with flags and signs was a deeply emotional experience, Green said.

"I am so thankful to have received such a wonderful welcome home," he said. He encouraged students to cherish their loved ones, and to take time to welcome veterans. Some veterans never received a true welcome when they returned home.

"It is never too late to do this," Green told students. "Thank them for their service, welcome them home again, and remind them that their sacrifices mattered then and still matter now."