In honor of Veterans Day, the Price American Legion Post will be hosting a Veterans Day Program in the Price City Peace Gardens. To talk about the event, Post Commander Les Schulz joined Castle Country Radio, explaining the purpose and meaning behind the event.
“The ceremony is going to be the 11th month, the 11th day, the 11th hour. And that was the time set aside at the end of World War I when the armistice was signed with Germany.” explained Schulz,” And so that’s what we’re going to do this year again to recognize. Veterans Day is to recognize the veterans who came home.
Schulz then discussed the different veteran support organizations within the community,” Number one, the American Legion, which I’m part of. And then there’s also the Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW, and the Disabled American Veterans, DAV.” Schulz continued,” And myself, I’m not qualified for the VFW, because I was never in combat. And that was one of the requirements they have been in combat … When you go out there and start looking for these organizations to join, you know what you’re qualified for. Everybody is qualified for the American Legion. All you need is a DD-214, an honorable discharge, or still be in uniform.”
Returning focus to the event, Schulz encouraged any veteran in the community to come and participate in the ceremony,” This day is for us. And if you have a uniform, put it on and come out. You can stand there in the crowd, and put your uniform on. We want to see you guys, and we want to recognize you for being here. And if nothing else, tell you welcome home.”
As for the contents of the event, Schulz described what people should expect from this ceremony, starting with a small veterans breakfast beforehand,” At 9:30 a.m. Intermountain Electronics and Utah State University Eastern are both supplying coffee and hot chocolate and breakfast burritos before the ceremony. And the invite is for all the veterans to show up.”
“ The ceremony will be starting at 11 o’clock when we march in.” explained Schulz,” And I hope to have enough volunteers that we can carry all the department flags in as well as the rifles and the horn. We will do a flag ceremony, there’ll be a short speech. And if I can get somebody from the VFW to respond, I might be able to get a short speech out of them and play taps. The national anthem will be sung.”
For any veterans in the community who want to get involved, you can contact the Price American Legion Post at 630-8474.
In closing, Schulz shared,” The invite is open for everybody that has been in uniform. I don’t care which war it is. I know there are a few here that served in the Second World War … if you can, if you can show up in uniform, we’d love to see you.”
The American Legion Veterans Day ceremony will take place on Monday, Nov. 11, starting at 11 a.m. in the Price City Peace Gardens.