De Pere Middle School honors local veterans

TOWN OF LEDGEVIEW - De Pere Middle School held a special Veterans Day ceremony Monday morning.

From World War Two, to Iraq and Afghanistan, 40 veterans took part in the event.

It was an ovation of heroic proportions. Hundreds of De Pere Middle School students set the stage for the Veterans Day visit.

"It's the least I can do to acknowledge the men and women of our community and Brown County, that have given their service to the United States," said Parker Hansen, 7th grade teacher/event organizer.

The ceremony was filled with tradition to honor those who served our country.

"It was good to see what veterans do for us, and we could actually see them and talk to them," said Erika Bosman, 7th grade student.

Earlier, veterans fanned out and covered the classrooms.

"The people who gave the ultimate sacrifice, their lives for us, to be here today," said Don Christian, Korean War veteran.

Don Christian was an Army sergeant in the Korean War. His message to the students is simple.

"Freedom isn't free. We fight everyday. Our people are in harm's way," said Christian.

Chief Petty Officer Justin Gavin serves in the Navy Reserves.

"You're a civilian, and you have a family, and you get a call to duty," said Chief Petty Officer Justin Gavin, Navy Reservist.

Gavin returned from Afghanistan this summer.

Gordy Lederhaus works at the school. A boot camp photo shows a young Marine from 1968.

He says the military display at the school will help the younger generation appreciate all veterans.

"They still have to remember. You got to get the pictures out there, show them what we did. Where we were, and what we were," said Gordy Lederhaus, Marine and Army veteran.

As the ceremony drew to a close, a part of living history closed with it.

But it was a chapter not lost on the veterans.

"When they come up and they shake your hand, that's really something," said Christian.

"It's heartwarming, it's really heartwarming," said Gavin.

"Tears in my eyes, believe me. Definitely it's tears in the eyes," said Lederhaus.

This is the ninth year for the event. The first year, only 11 veterans took part in the ceremony.