Senior winners included Eric Sorenson, 1st; Rachel Ledding, 2nd and Hailey Johnson 3rd.
Principal Cyr then introduced former US Congressman Tim Penny. Penny was First District Representative from Minnesota from 1982-1994. He has written three books “Common Sense,” “15 Biggest Lies in Politics” and “Payment Due.”
“I consider the 20th Century the “American Century,” said Penny. “In 1903, the Wright Brothers flew the first flight at Kitty Hawk, seven decades later we had a man walking on the moon. America has been a leader in technological advances.”
Penny spoke of the part America’s veterans have played in the country’s history.
“As Thomas Jefferson said, ‘Freedom is never won. It has to be earned,’” said Penny. “In Korea, there were 5.7 million troops involved; 54,000 were killed in action. Vietnam saw 8.7 million soldiers involved, 57,000 died. In the Gulf War, 500,000 troops were deployed, 200 never came home. Today, we dedicate ourselves to the many veterans who have served. We owe them no less.”
Penny was followed by Matt Dahle and Eric Sorenson reading “What is a Veteran?”
The Legion members performed the time-honored ceremony of folding Old Glory, as Post Chaplain Winston Evenson explained to the audience just what each fold signified. The audience and the choir sang “God Bless America.”
The program ended as Tim Siewert played “Taps” and the colors were retired.
VETERAN’S DAY ESSAY WINNERS — Former Congressman Tim Penny is surrounded by NRHEG students who were chosen the top writers in the Veteran’s Day Essay Contest (from left): Torri Stencel, Penny, Eric Sorenson and Nicole Edon. (Star Eagle photo by Jody Wynnemer)
