Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton has held a Veterans Day program for many years. This time, the JWP choir members were the host of this year’s program on Monday, November 11.
As is tradition, veterans enjoyed breakfast in the media center, which was served to them by members of the various high school choirs, including choir director Josh Sorenson.
The program began shortly after the school day started, with junior and senior high school students sitting in on the program. Sorenson was the emcee of the event. He, like many of the other veterans who appeared for the program, is a veteran who served in the military for a few years. He reminded the students and other audience members of the importance of military service.
“We’re here as a community to honor our veterans and those who have served who have served in many combats,” he said.
Sorenson encouraged the veterans present and upfront to introduce themselves. They were Tom Harrington, Gerry Schendel, Harold Kruse, Dave Lohmann, Gary Mittelsteadt, Floyd Herme, Dave Bonnifield, John McNair, and Jason McNamara.
“This is a niche community of individuals who provide for your niche community,” Sorenson said. “Not all people choose to serve, but those who did serve have given quite a sacrifice. The number of people who sacrifice and step up to the plate is dropping. Many of them are involved with the local American Legion. They work hand in hand with the community to provide services such as our disc golf park.”
The JWP choirs joined forces to perform the Star Spangled Banner, with the Janesville Boy Scouts posting the colors.
Bob Carda, a member of the U.S. Air Force for over three decades, was the speaker for the event. He thanked the choir for giving their morning to provide a great breakfast and to have an opportunity to talk to some of the members about their time in the service.
“For me, Veterans Day is not an opportunity to get a free meal or a day off,” Carda began. “It’s about the opportunity to recognize and thank those for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to protecting our national security are appreciated, and underscore the fact that all of those who served have sacrificed and done their duty.”
Carda conducted a mini-quiz on the origins of Veterans Day. Veterans Day was initially known as Armistice Day, commemorating the armistice signed between Germany and the Allies to effectively end the battles during World War I and establish a temporary peace. The Treaty of Versailles was signed the following year to end the war officially. In 1954, Armistice Day was renamed to Veterans Day.
He explained how many veterans may go through TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injuries) or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and many of them may not be willing to talk about their time in the service or their issues until “they’re good and ready.”
“No matter the illness, we are a proud group of individuals, and we may not want others to know about our problems,” he said. “Many are getting the help they need. But sometimes, a casual conversation is enough to make a difference and make their day a little bit brighter.”
He shared an instance of this happening to him. He searched for a guest speaker for one of the Memorial Day programs, and the individual he had in mind was brought up during a casual conversation at a barber shop. The individual accepted the chance to speak about his time in the service. Carda claimed that it was the first time this speaker had talked about his time in the service with anybody.
“The speech centered around a firefight and the loss of two of his closest buddies,” Carda added. “After the program, the individual said it was the first time he was able to talk about that day or night. Just a casual conversation.
“Sometimes, this tactic may not work,” Carda continued. “However, just being there and lending a sympathetic ear or shoulder can help ease a stressful day.”
Carda encouraged students and audience members to thank veterans and talk with them. “I’d like to see a trend start here at JWP,” he said. “I would ask each of you to find a veteran and get to know them. I mentioned asking family members or relatives; that’s a good starting point.
“In the state of Minnesota alone, there were approximately 296,000 living veterans. They are out there among us, and they’re not going to put a target on themselves to strike up a conversation.
“But I’d like to leave you with that challenge. Find a veteran and strike up that conversation. They may or may not want your help or need it. But you can feel good within yourselves that you helped someone, a veteran, who helped preserve your freedom.”
Afterward, JWP honored veterans with music, starting with the JWP men’s choir performing “We Shall Not Sleep” by Laura Farnell, a piece based heavily on the poem “In Flanders Fields.” The JWP women’s choir then performed “Wayfaring Stranger,” arranged by Jean Reynolds Davis.
The JWP junior choir then performed a special rendition of “God Bless the USA.” Sorenson explained that their rendition included a third verse written by his sister, who wrote it as a way to get through a tough time when he and his father were both serving in the military simultaneously. She had performed her rendition at many events and was honored to meet Lee Greenwood, who wrote the original version of “God Bless the USA.” He gave her the blessing to continue performing with her additional verse. She also had the opportunity to sing her version for military members at Fort Ripley.
Many veterans stood during the song, encouraging the crowd to join as the junior high choir continued performing. They were given a standing ovation for their performance.
The JWP concert band was last to perform, as they played “Salute to the Armed Forces,” a medley of anthems from each branch of the armed forces arranged by Paul Lavender. Sorenson called out each branch and encouraged veterans to stand as their anthem was played.
As the program came to a close, Sorenson encouraged everyone to talk to a veteran and ask them questions. “You might be surprised by the stories they share,” he said.
Veterans Day gives us all a sobering reminder to pause and remember those who have served and the sacrifices they made so that we may stay free in the United States. God bless America, and God bless our veterans.
