Shawano Community High School celebrated local veterans several days ahead of the designated day with music, honors and tales of what it means to be a veteran.
The Shawano Hometown Heroes program handed out the banners that had been hanging from lampposts along Main Street for almost six months while the SCHS concert band played patriotic music.
The high school invited Command Sgt. Maj. Duane Weyers with the Wisconsin Army National Guard to talk about those who put on the uniform for one of many branches of the United States Armed Forces. Weyers noted that some SCHS students are approaching the age of 18 and may decide to enter the military, like he did in 1991 after graduating high school in Loyal.
“Imagine stepping into a world of uncertainty, where you don’t know what challenges lie ahead,” Weyers said to high school and middle school students that filled the gymnasium bleachers. “You go anyway, because you believe in something bigger than yourself. That’s what millions of Americans have done throughout our history. They answered the call to serve — not because it was easy, but because it was necessary.”
Weyers has been deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and many other places around the world — 29 countries in all, along with 48 of the 50 United States. He noted that there are 7,000 soldiers in the state National Guard, but less than 1% of Americans step up to serve in the military.
“This is a day when we pause to reflect on the courage, sacrifice and dedication of the men and women who serve in the United States Armed Forces,” Weyers said. “To the veterans here today, we thank you for your service. Your sacrifices have safeguarded the freedoms we enjoy every day, and we’re deeply grateful for the commitment to our nation.”
Weyers described veterans as ordinary people who did extraordinary things to preserve this country’s way of life. He noted most veterans went voluntarily, but some did because they were told.
“Here in Wisconsin, we’ve got a proud tradition of military service,” Weyers said, noting that the 32nd Infantry Division, known as the Red Arrows, is one of the shining examples.
The Red Arrows were the first division to pierce through enemy lines during World War I, Weyers said. They also played a critical role in the Pacific Theater during World War II by engaging in some of the war’s most dangerous battles, including in Papua, New Guinea.
“Their bravery and determination helped turn the tide of war, and their legacy lives on as a testament to the strength and resilience of Wisconsin soldiers,” Weyers said. “Those who chose to serve are indeed heroes. They had courage. They had guts. They had integrity and a willingness to serve something greater than themselves.”
Despite the depiction of military members possessing some trait that the rest of the people lack, Weyers said that potential is in everyone. He noted that many of the members of the 32nd Infantry came from Shawano, Bonduel, Gresham and other places.
“They grew up walking the same streets you walk, attending the same schools you attend and dreaming the same dreams you dream,” Weyers said. “Their service reminds us that heroes can come from anywhere, and that greatness is not defined by where you start.”
Weyers told the students that members of the military travel the world, experience different cultures and visit places that could only be imagined. He noted that he probably could not have journeyed to all the places he did in his almost 35 years of service if he had not decided to join in 1991.
“Whether it’s training in the mountains of Colorado, serving on a naval ship in the Pacific, working with allies in Europe, the military opens exciting doors to exciting opportunities across the globe,” Weyers said.
The military also offers career options, he added, including engineering, medicine, aviation, cybersecurity and leadership. College tuition can be earned, he said.
Weyers encouraged the students to seek out veterans, even the members of their own families, and thank them for their service.
“Maybe it’s a parent, a grandparent, a sibling, a former teammate, a neighbor, a teacher, a police officer,” he said. “Ask them about their experiences. Listen to their stories. You’ll find that every veteran has a unique journey, but they all share a common bond — a deep love for their country and their willingness to serve.”
At the end of the ceremony, Kurt Krizan, Shawano School District superintendent, announced that the Shawano AmVets had donated $10,000 for the construction of a new flagpole at the renovated stadium under construction at SCHS.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
