[0:01] On behalf of the students and staff of [0:03] Emerald Trail, I'd like to begin by [0:06] thanking all of our veterans uh who are [0:08] behind me. I believe if there are any [0:10] others that would like to come forward, [0:11] please do so uh who are here with us [0:13] today. We deeply appreciate your [0:15] sacrifice and your service to our [0:16] country and all the sacrifices you have [0:19] made to protect our freedoms. [0:22] Um just a little bit about me. I was a [0:24] sergeant in the 682nd Engineer Battalion [0:27] out of Hutchinson, Minnesota. was called [0:30] active duty. Um I had a kid ask me or a [0:33] student ask me, "So are you a teacher or [0:35] are you a soldier?" So in the National [0:36] Guard, you're both, right? Weekends and [0:39] certain times throughout the summer, but [0:41] was called active duty on December 18th [0:43] of 2003 and then spent all of 2004 in [0:46] Iraq and then came home on February 1st [0:49] in 2005. So I miss lots of birthdays [0:52] with my kiddos, my wife of course. Um, [0:55] and I also want to just extend uh [0:58] another set of appreciation for the the [1:00] family members who are helping take care [1:03] of kids and just yeah going to work [1:05] every day and supporting. It's not an [1:06] easy job being a family member [1:08] supporting people who are overseas. Um, [1:10] lots of worries too. So I appreciate all [1:12] that you have done as well. Um, at this [1:15] time I'd like to invite Mr. Ryurn uh to [1:18] say a few words. [1:21] >> All right. Thank you. So, first of all, [1:23] I'd just like to thank our local [1:25] scouting groups for helping organize [1:27] this uh first inaugural uh Veterans Day [1:30] ceremony here at Emerald Trail. So, [1:32] today, November 11th, is officially [1:35] Veterans Day across the country. And [1:37] it's a time to honor those who have [1:39] fought for freedom and recognize the [1:42] sacrifices that veterans have made for [1:44] all citizens of the United States. [1:46] [snorts] Veterans [clears throat] Day is [1:48] observed on November 11th, no matter [1:50] what day of the week it falls. So today, [1:52] people all across America are honoring [1:55] men and women who protect our country [1:57] and are pausing to remember those who [1:59] lost their lives while defending our [2:01] freedoms. If you know somebody who is a [2:03] veteran or someone currently serving in [2:06] the military, please thank them for [2:08] their service and for what they've done [2:10] for our country. So at this time, we [2:13] have all of our veterans up front here. [2:15] Again, if there's any out in the [2:16] audience, please join us. Uh they're [2:19] going to they're lined up here. So, [2:21] first let's give them a round of [2:22] applause for being here. [2:28] And for all our Emerald Trail students, [2:31] if you see a grandparent, a parent, or [2:34] relative up here, would you please come [2:36] up and stand by them? They're going to [2:38] introduce themselves and say who they're [2:40] here to represent. So, if you have [2:42] somebody standing up in front here, can [2:46] you come up and stand by them, please? [3:05] All right. So, what we're going to do is [3:07] we're going to pass the microphone. I'll [3:10] have our veterans or active duty members [3:13] say their name, their branch of service, [3:16] and who they're here uh representing [3:18] today. [3:23] >> My name is Sergeant Nam Sagai, and I'm [3:26] here for Elelliana [3:28] >> and Lucy Sagai. [3:30] And I served in in the army for about 10 [3:33] years. [3:36] >> Hello. This is my granddaughter right [3:38] here. who I love very much. This is [3:41] Rachel. I was in the army for over 32 [3:44] years, a chief war officer. They sent me [3:47] uh to Iraq two times and uh I was [3:50] actually trained as a as a Arctic [3:52] soldier, but they sent me to the desert [3:54] instead. [3:57] My name is Ryan Gillson. I'm Carson [3:59] Gillson's dad. Um I I don't see Carson [4:02] yet. Can he hear me? [4:05] >> Come on up, dude. [laughter] [4:08] right here, buddy. [4:13] Hey. Hey, man. [4:17] >> And I was in the army uh from 2009 to [4:19] 2013. Active Army. I deployed to [4:21] Northern Iraq in support of Operation [4:23] New Dawn. [4:26] >> Uh Luke McDonald, United States Marine [4:29] Corps. Uh Charlie and Carmen, get up [4:32] here. [laughter] [4:40] Chase Whitenower. Um, 10 years, [4:44] >> United States SEAL teams. I'm here for [4:46] Emerson Whitenower and Axton Whitenower. [4:52] >> John Kendall, Air Force, uh, [4:54] representing the color guard today. [4:58] >> Paul Kendall, Army veteran, now in the [5:00] Air Force, representing the color guard. [5:03] >> I'm JJ Kendall. I'm in the Army and I'm [5:06] representing all of Miss Amy's class [5:08] today. [5:11] >> Bill Kendall, [5:13] Army, and I'm uh these boys father. [5:20] >> Very nice. My name's Chris Foy. I spent [5:22] eight years in the army and I'm [5:24] representing Parker Foy from Mrs. [5:26] Conungle's class and Quinn Foy from Mrs. [5:29] Barn's class. [5:32] Hi, I'm uh Dustin Kf, Gunner Comp's dad, [5:35] US Army, eight years, [5:40] >> predictor, second class Aaron Rother, [5:42] United States Navy. I'm here with my [5:44] niece Haley train [5:48] El Chandler, Army, representing Amelia [5:52] and Evan. [5:55] >> Hi, Mark Lavine. I served in the Cold [5:57] War over in Germany. This is my great [5:59] granddaughters Emily and Lola and my [6:02] wife Ela. [6:07] >> Um Steve Parr. I'm here representing my [6:10] grandson Harris and my other grandson [6:13] Oliver who's not up here right now. Not [6:16] sure where he's at. Um I'm an Air Force [6:19] veteran uh 22 years active duty. started [6:22] off uh in the Vietnam War and ended in [6:25] the first uh um Desert War. [6:33] Sergeant Cummings, United States Air [6:35] Force supported OAF OEF. I'm here with [6:39] Bodie Corey Quinn representing Mrs. [6:42] Green, Miss Foley, Miss Dial's class. [6:48] >> I'm Dave Lindström. I'm represented by [6:52] Bray and Norah Parker. I served in the [6:55] army in from 60 64 to 67. [7:02] >> Jeff Jeff Anderson. I'm here with my [7:05] granddaughter Iowa and I was active duty [7:09] Navy and also in the Minnesota Army [7:12] National Guard. [7:16] Greg Angerson, United States Marine [7:18] Corps, and I am the father of one of [7:20] your second grade teachers, Rachel [7:21] Angerson. [7:24] All right, let's give them one more [7:26] awesome round of applause. Thank you for [7:28] being here. [7:34] All right, before I turn it over to Mr. [7:37] John, I just want to talk a little bit [7:39] about flag etiquette and just ways we [7:42] show respect for the US flag. So over [7:45] the years students sometimes they walk [7:47] in and they ask like Mr. Rayman why is [7:49] the flag half staffed or why is there a [7:51] light over the flag? So in the United [7:54] States we have what's called a flag code [7:57] and there's kind of certain rules that [7:59] we have for flying the US flag and I'm [8:01] going to talk about a few of them today. [8:04] So, if you look at the top of a flag, [8:06] there's a light up there. And [8:09] [clears throat] this is should be [8:10] standard on all flag poles. Lights or [8:13] the flag should be illuminated or lit at [8:15] all times, either by sunlight or an [8:18] appropriate light source. So, we have a [8:21] light that shines on the flag pole at [8:23] night. [8:24] And um if you don't have a light on your [8:27] flag pole, it should be taken down every [8:30] day. [8:37] So sometimes when a flag flies a long [8:41] time for months at a time in the wind [8:43] and the rain, it becomes a little [8:45] tattered. So if it becomes worn or [8:48] faded, we have to retire it in a [8:51] respectful way. So what we do is we [8:54] donate our used flags to the American [8:56] Legion and then they retire them with [8:58] honor. So, Victor and her custodial [9:01] team, they order new flags for us [9:03] periodically throughout the year, and [9:05] they keep a really close eye on the [9:07] condition of the flag. Sometimes you see [9:10] the flag flying half staff that [snorts] [9:12] shows sorrow, a respect after a national [9:16] tragedy or passing of a national leader. [9:19] It's also a way to honor those who lost [9:21] their lives serving our country. On [9:24] Memorial Day, the flag is flown half [9:27] staff in the morning and raised to full [9:29] staff at noon. And then lowering and [9:33] folding the flag. When you lower the [9:36] flag, no part of the flag should ever [9:38] touch the ground. Um, it should always [9:41] be caught with waiting hands. And [9:44] there's a proper way to store a flag, [9:46] too. Um, that's neatly folded. Uh, [9:51] so we have some experts here who are [9:54] going to show how to fold a flag. JJ [9:57] Kendall, he's one of our pair of [9:58] professionals that works in one of our [10:00] classrooms here. So, we recruited him [10:03] and his father to show us how to fold a [10:06] flag. So, after the flag is lowered, [10:09] it's kind of held at waist level and [10:12] they fold it lengthwise in half. Then, [10:15] they fold it again. So, the blue field [10:18] is on the outside. [10:20] So then one person's holds the blue [10:22] field while the other person makes a [10:26] triangular fold [10:29] from the opposite end. [10:32] Mr. Kendall's folding it up. [10:37] Then his dad's going to tuck it in. So [10:39] the only thing you see [10:42] um should not see any of the red. You [10:46] should only see the blue field when you [10:47] fold a flag. [10:59] So that's the proper way to fold and [11:02] store a flag after it's used. So [11:07] >> thank you. [11:09] All right, I'm going to turn it back to [11:11] Mr. John who's going to we're going to [11:13] continue with our ceremony here. [11:19] Okay, ladies and gentlemen, um all [11:21] audience members, we're all standing, so [11:23] thank you for standing. Um rise to [11:25] attention. If you have any nonuniform or [11:28] non-religious headgear, so hats, if you [11:31] wear as a hat, if you could please [11:33] remove that. [11:36] Uh as a sign of our respect for our [11:39] country, our veterans, and the flag of [11:40] the United States of America, please [11:42] remain silent and reverent. Color guard, [11:46] you may advance. [11:49] Fifth graders, those of you helping find [11:52] a spot that you're able to help [12:43] Veterans Day traditions began in 1921 [12:46] when an unknown World War I American [12:48] soldier was laid to rest in Arlington [12:50] National Cemetery. Many people attended [12:53] the burial and a military memor memorial [12:56] ceremony was performed for the unknown [12:58] soldier. On November 11th, people began [13:01] to celebrate the end of World War I with [13:03] fighting ending on the 11th hour of the [13:05] 11th day of the 11th month. Once again, [13:09] a memorial ceremony for the unknown [13:11] soldier was performed during the [13:12] celebrations. The day was called [13:15] Armistice Day. It later became a [13:17] national holiday and was renamed [13:20] Veterans Day to honor all men and women [13:22] who have served in the military and [13:24] fought to protect our nation and our [13:25] flag. Throughout our nation's history, [13:28] the flag has stood as a symbol of [13:30] freedom [13:34] for all Americans. The United States [13:36] flag remains a proud and enduring symbol [13:38] of the freedoms we enjoy and the [13:40] patriotism we feel for our country and [13:42] our veterans. [13:49] If everyone would please place your [13:51] right hand over your heart. [13:59] Please join us in singing the national [14:02] anthem. [14:20] Say can you see [singing] [14:24] by the dawn early [14:28] light [singing] [14:30] so proudly [14:32] we held [14:35] at the twilight [singing] [14:38] lasting [14:41] stripes and [singing] bright stars [14:45] through the perilous [singing] [14:49] fight. [14:51] For the ramp parts we watched [singing] [14:56] were so gallently [14:59] streaming [15:01] [snorts] and the rockets [15:03] reds [15:06] [singing] bursting [15:08] in [15:10] gave proof [singing] [15:12] through the night [15:15] that our [singing] flag was still there. [15:20] Oh, [singing] say does that star [15:25] spangled [15:27] [singing] [15:28] yet? [15:33] For the [singing] land [15:36] of the free [15:39] and the [singing] home [15:42] of the [15:44] brave. [15:55] All right, ladies and gentlemen, please [15:58] join me in a moment of silence. During [16:01] this moment of silence, we will play [16:02] taps. [16:04] We pause to thank all who have served [16:06] our country and to also honor those who [16:09] have sacrificed their lives in defense [16:11] of our freedom. [16:17] Byebye. [16:34] >> Taps. [16:42] Where are you? [17:23] Thank you everybody. [17:25] Color guard dismissed. [17:31] Uh, please join me in reciting the [17:33] pledge of allegiance. Put your heart [17:35] into it. Say the pledge boldly, showing [17:38] the pride and strength you feel for our [17:39] country. [17:42] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the [17:45] United [screaming] States of America and [17:48] to the forsy [17:55] andice for all. [18:00] Thank you. Um that was awesome hearing [18:02] from 700 people. That was great. Thank [18:04] you. Um on behalf of the students and [18:07] staff at Emerald Trail Trail, we thank [18:09] you for joining us today for our [18:10] Veterans Day flag ceremony. Our first um [18:14] one that we've had here at this [18:15] building. So, thank you for making this [18:16] a special event. As you continue with [18:18] your day, um [18:21] make sure you you reach out and thank [18:23] anyone that you know who has served our [18:25] country. um honor. Just reach out to [18:28] them and tell them you appreciate how [18:30] much they've done for you. Let us all [18:31] pause to remember the many American [18:33] veterans who have fought to protect our [18:35] precious freedoms and haven't had the [18:38] opportunity to come home. Um all [18:40] students and staff members are now [18:43] dismissed. Please quietly return to your [18:45] classroom. Have a great day. Thank you [18:48] for honoring our veterans. Uh we'd like [18:50] to invite all of our veterans inside for [18:52] a short um service or brief reception. [18:56] Thank you very much. Have a wonderful [18:57] day.