Posting and exiting of the colors, reciting of the “Pledge of Allegiance” and the playing of the “National Anthem,” the moment of silence, taps, the presidential proclamation…
As the Cleveland Veterans Day speakers explained the traditions used in the two programs in the new gym on November 11—the earlier one geared to the high school and adult visitors and the following one skewed to elementary students—the ceremonies not only honored veterans but were a learning experience for the audience as well.
Tony Dittrich (above), who is in his 15th year teaching high school science at Cleveland, was the guest speaker at the elementary program. He said that students are surprised to learn that he served in the military for many years.
Dittrich, like every veteran, has a unique story, but most of their stories have one thing in common, he said: loved ones left on the home front.
“Behind most all veterans is a family that loves, supports and has spent time missing and worrying about them.”
Soon after he graduated from high school in Mankato, Dittrich headed off to Marine Corps basic training.
“You get yelled at a lot, but I quickly learned you got yelled at less when you made good choices. Does that sound familiar? And because everybody did pushups when you made dumb choices, we learned the importance of being part of a team.”
After a year-long stint in Japan and a return to the California coast, Dittrich headed off to Southwest Asia to support the Gulf War.
“(We had) no idea when we would be coming back. It was kind of like camping, but the food was worse, and showers were scarce.”
Like many soldiers, he was not able to attend important family events. He missed the birth of his first child, but, after seven years in the Marines, he eventually returned home to stay–so he thought– and he pursued a teaching degree at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
He also joined the National Guard, and with the 9/11 attacks, he had to leave his teaching job in Stillwater to serve “airport duty,” standing guard at gates typically 14-16 hours a day, six days a week for seven months. Later, he did a six-month tour in Kosovo.
With four months left to go before reaching 20 years of service and being able to retire from the military, Dittrich thought he was on the home stretch, and he would be a civilian again, but then his company of 130 infantry soldiers, of which he was the commander, learned it had to deploy to Iraq for a year.
“Although I was eligible to sit this one out because of my retirement and previous deployments, it was my duty to go with these soldiers to Iraq. I didn’t want to let them down.”
With six months of training and the tour extended four months, Dittrich and the rest of his company were away from their families for almost two years. A positive, he said, was the soldiers formed unbreakable bonds between themselves.
While missing family and friends is a common theme in the stories of most veterans, Dittrich said that stories on the home front are often untold.
“Families and loved ones waited and worried about their veteran when they were gone. Military members can often count on each other, but many families aren’t close to other military families. So, as we celebrate our veterans, remember there is a family behind every one of them.”
Principal Scott Lusk introduced both programs and explained the significance of the posting by the Cleveland American Legion/Legion Auxiliary/Sons of the American Legion Color guard.
Thirteen of Lusk's family have served in the military, the latest his 18-year-old nephew.
“I could not be more proud of him. He told me that our family played a role in his decision to join the military, something that made me reflect on the values of service, support and sacrifice that families pass down.”
In the first program, Le Sueur County Sheriff's Department deputy Joe Kern honored his coworkers who have served or still serve in the military: Remi Luna, Isaac Holm, Alesha Meyer, A. J. Sowieja, Dillon Lambert, Caroline Kuntze, Jeremy Lankenau, Courtlynn Rohlfing, Kevin Wann and Dan Tousley. Tousley, Wann and Rohlfing were on hand to introduce themselves.
Kern, who runs the Sheriff's K9 program, also talked about the history of dogs serving in the military, starting with “Sargent Stubby,” who, during WWII, detected enemy gas attacks and located wounded on the battlefield. He held a demonstration with “Sheriff Deputy K-9 Jett,” a German Sheppard he and the Sheriff's Department rely on to detect narcotics and locate and apprehend suspects.
Also in the earlier program, Student Council president and NHS secretary Vivian Hilfer explained the key points of the Pledge of Allegiance and read it as well. Senior class president and NHS vice president Carter Kern welcomed the audience, explained the significance of the program and introduced speaker Kern.
Cleveland elementary students Declyn Beelow (grade 4), Levi Wargelin (grade 5) and Ashley Geldner (grade 6) read their selected Veteran’s Day essays on what Veterans Day means to them.
“I have several family members who have served in the past and some that are still serving,” Beelow said. “These include aunts, uncles, cousins and grandfathers. Many of these family members have served in several wars. One of them is my uncle John, who is a recently retired US Army Ranger and sniper who did too many tours to count. Veterans have a very important job, and I think they deserve to be thanked for their service to the country and the sacrifice they made to keep us all safe. I am honored and proud to have veterans in my family, and I thank them and all veterans.”
“Veterans Day is a single day of the year that we get to celebrate the veterans of our country who have served in the armed forces,” Wargelin said. “Whether it’s from the American Revolution to the Afghanistan War. It also means I get to sleep safely in my bed at night. It also means I get to celebrate what a great country we live in.”
“Their service reminds us that freedom isn’t free,” Geldner said. “It’s earned and safeguarded by those ready to defend it. Whether they fought in far-off battles or provided crucial support at home, every veteran has played a key role in preserving values we cherish today.”
Former US Marine and American Legion member Andy Queen presented the speaker certificates.
The Cleveland American Legion/Legion Auxiliary/Sons of the American Legion Color guard posted and retired the colors while the Legion family Firing Squad fired the salute.
Under the direction of Erik Hermanson, the grade 8-10 Concert Band provided music, including “We Will Remember Them,” “Star Spangled Banner,” and “Armed Forces on Parade.” Lusk explained how the later piece was an amalgamation of the theme songs of each military branch: Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard and Space Force.
Principal Dave Cink explained the moment of silence and the bugle call “taps. After the firing squad salute, freshman August Keltgen played the 24 notes that make up taps.
National Honor Society president Anna Kawatski-Kline explained the reason for the Veterans Day presidential proclamation and read President Donald Trump’s 2025 speech.
Student Council vice president and junior class vice president Taylor Wolf gave the closing remarks and explained the exiting of the colors by the color guard.
Also at the program for the elementary school, Clipper Rising Voices, a select grade 3-5 choir under the direction of Lacee Johnson, sang the National Anthem and “Veterans we Love You.” Johnson also played taps. Beelow, Wargelin and Geldner again read their selected Veteran’s Day essays. The entire elementary sang “Thank You Soldiers.”
Principal Scott Lusk talked about how members of his family who served helped pave the way for him being the first of them to attend college.
Carter Kern welcomed the audience.
Vivian Hilfer led the “Pledge of Alliance” and explained its importance too.
Essay winner
Essay winner
Essay winner
Members of the color guard
Le Sueur County Sheriff's department members who served in the military included Kevin Wann, Dan Tousley and Courtlynn Rohlfing. At right is Joe Kern.
Color guard members Andy Queen, Jim Beckel, Greg Davis and Leonard Seitz
Joe Kern and his K9 partner Jett demonstrated to the audience how they work together to apprehend suspects, search for narcotics and have some fun too.
Students met Jett after the demonstration.
Principal Dave Cink explained the reason for a moment of silence and taps.
August Keltgen played taps while director Erik Hermanson listened.
Anna Kawatski-Klein read the presidential Veterans Day Proclamation and explained why the president drafts one each year.
Taylor Wolf gave the closing remarks and explained the retiring of the colors.
Andy Queen, Leonard Seitz, Principal Scott Lusk and the elementary Veterans Day essay winners
Clipper Rising Voices performed the “Star Spangled Banner” and “Veterans We Love You” during the elementary program. At right is director Lacee Johnson.
Exiting of the colors
The grade 8-10 Concert Band provided music for the first program.