Emporia and area residents saluted veterans and military service personnel Friday.
Veterans Day morning saw temperatures in the mid-20s and wind chills around 10 degrees, but the parade took place as scheduled and the memorial service moved from the All Veterans Memorial to the Fairgrounds Anderson Building. Keynote speaker Clarence “Frenchy” Frye, a 30-year veteran of the US Navy, says during deployment he truly appreciated the thoughts and gifts sent from home and the comfort it brought to him and others.
Gold Star mother Maria Lane, whose son, David, was killed in Iraq in 2007, says she is “fiercely proud” of her son’s service to the country — and that pride is stronger after conversations with soldiers who served with him. Hearing the stories of other soldiers also strengthens her appreciation for what veterans do.
Master of ceremonies Retired Col. Lesley Hedges says only one percent of America’s current population is an active military service member, while seven percent are veterans.
The ceremony once again concluded with the traditional gun salute and playing of Taps.
KVOE Operations Manager Greg Rahe and News/Sports Reporter Dylan Sherwood contributed to KVOE’s on-air and online coverage Friday.
Photos by Tagan Trahoon, Dylan Sherwood and Chuck Samples/KVOE News
