A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter comes in for a landing Nov. 10 in front of Shawano Community High School as a kickoff to the school’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. The helicopter brought three high-ranking officers from Madison to speak to students and the community about the importance of veterans. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Shawano School District Superintendent Kurt Krizan, left, stands in the background and talks prior to the Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 10 with Wisconsin Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Duane Weyer, center, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mike Tomblin. In the foreground, Brig. Gen. Brion Aderman converses with Shawano Community High School band teacher Christopher Kent, who serves as a sergeant with the Wisconsin Army National Guard band. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Shawano Community High School juniors Kevin Kroenke, left, and Kian Morstad join the rest of the high school band in playing the national anthem as part of the school’s Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 10. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Lori Mathwich, a military veteran who coordinates the Shawano School District’s annual Veterans Day program, talks about the importance of local veterans and why the community does the Shawano Hometown Heroes program. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Plenty of community members stand proudly with their hands over their hearts as they listen to the Shawano Community High School band and choir perform the national anthem on Nov. 10 for the SCHS Veterans Day ceremony. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Brig. Gen. Brion Aderman with the Wisconsin Army National Guard tells a packed gymnasium at Shawano Community High School that the flight from Madison to Shawano in the Blackhawk was perfect with decent weather, noting he’s been on flights during more turbulent occasions. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Christopher Kent, Shawano Community High School band director, leads his students in the Armed Forces Medley as he’s surrounded by local veterans and community members near the end of the high school’s Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 10. Kent is a sergeant with the Wisconsin Army National Guard and also plays in the Army’s band. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Shawano Community High School student Caiden Cappaert, left, talks about what he learned from his 97-year-old great-grandfather about his time in the U.S. Air Force during a speech at the high school while Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mike Tomblin listens. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Dozens of banners that had been hanging proudly on lampposts in Shawano since Memorial Day are handed out Nov. 10 at the Shawano Community High School Veterans Day ceremony. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Command Sgt. Maj. Duane Weyer with the Wisconsin National Guard talks about how Shawano Community High School reminds him of his hometown high school, only with more students. He noted that he grew up in a town of about 1,000 people. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Wisconsin Army National Guard members, from left, Brig. Gen. Brion Aderman, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mike Tomblin and Command Sgt. Maj. Duane Weyer look at some of the gifts made for them by welding students at Shawano Community High School. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
A U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter passes the football goalpost on the Shawano Community High School practice field as it comes in for a landing Nov. 10. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Shawano Community High School Principal Aaron Manders narrates while the high school band performs “Duty, Honor, Country” at the beginning of the school’s Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 10. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Members of the Shawano Community High School choir put their hearts into singing the national anthem at the beginning of the school’s Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 10. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Brig. Gen. Brion Aderman, left, with the Wisconsin Army National Guard holds up the Wisconsin Badger made for him by Shawano Community High School students while Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mike Tomblin looks at some of the gifts he received. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
AmVets Post 10 members bring in the American flag as the community and students with Shawano Community High School and Shawano Community Middle School stand and watch. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Mike Tomblin with the Wisconsin National Guard speaks before more than 1,000 people Nov. 10 at Shawano Community High School for its annual Veterans Day ceremony. Tomblin noted that warrant officers tend to be better tactical experts than talkers. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)

Shawano Community High School honors veterans