As people across the country think about the tragedy at Fort Hood Military post in Texas, veterans locally are reacting. Veteran’s Day is Wednesday, November 11th. Friday, Manheim Central Middle School in Lancaster County held an event in conjunction with the holiday.
More than 70 veterans stood before a crowd of hundreds to be honored for their service.
Students sang songs about American freedoms. Slides were projected on a big screen to educate the audience about the history of Veteran’s Day. Students dressed up as, and told stories of, veterans living in the area to personally represent the service of each local hero.
“To be honored in this particular way was moving for me. I really, thoroughly, liked it,” says veteran Sgt. Van Lundren.
Fellow veteran Glen Roberts explains, “It means a lot to show that people recognize veterans, the people who serve.”
The school had a moment of silence to recognize the victims and their families affected by Thursday’s deadly shootings at the Fort Hood Military post in Texas.
Hearing that one of their own allegedly opened fire on the post was difficult for these veterans to comprehend.
“(It’s) heart-wrenching that a soldier would take it upon himself to kill soldiers like that. I just couldn’t believe it. It hurts,” says Lundren.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” says Roberts.
Condolences expressed “soldier to soldier”, as more than 70 veterans sat and listened to the familiar anthem of a military funeral, “Amazing Grace” on the bag pipes.
Lundren tells CBS-21 News, “The bagpipes at the end, that actually brought tears to my eyes.”
Veterans say they left the event feeling appreciated and touched. They say events like these honoring their service always mean so much.
