Veterans honored Saturday at courthouse

People greeted each other with smiles and handshakes just before entering the doorway on a blustery November day. It was standing room only in the rotunda of the Monroe County Courthouse as "America the Beautiful" was played on a piano. Those with seats joined those already standing as everyone removed their hats to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.\n"It is the veteran, not the preacher, who gives us freedom of religion," said Larry Summitt, commander of the American Legion, Post 18, during opening remarks at the Veterans' Day ceremony Saturday. "It was the veteran, not the reporter, who gave us freedom of the press. It was the veteran, not the poet, that gave us the freedom of speech. It was a veteran, not the campus organizer, who gave us the freedom to assemble. It was the veteran, not the politician, who gave us the right to vote."\nMembers from several other local organizations continued opening remarks.\n"There are 26 million living veterans, and there are about 270 million Americans who are not veterans," said Mike Pipher, adjutant of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 18. He went on to quote Winston Churchill: "Never has so many owed so much to so few."\nMaj. Kirk White of the 150th Field Artillery Regiment of the Indiana Army National Guard followed the opening remarks. White said the most potent weapon military has is the men and women who wear the uniforms. White talked about the families of veterans who have carried the weight of worry. He commented on the fact that there are 1.4 million men and women serving today.\n"Common men and women do continue to do uncommon things," he said.\nWhite talked about American soldiers going against the odds to "fight for an idea." He said American soldiers all have something in common.\n"The warrior ethos: Put the mission first, and never accept defeat," White said.\nWreaths were laid in the front of the room before names of the veterans who passed away this past year were read aloud. A bell of honor rang for each name as those in the rotunda lowered their eyes in remembrance. A veterans' honor guard gun salute followed by the playing of "Taps," and then prayer closed the ceremony.\nIU student Michael Vician, 25, who went to Iraq in 2005 with the National Guard, said it's important for this town to recognize its veterans. Vician hopes people will take a moment of their time to appreciate U.S. veterans.\n"I hope people stop and give it a thought while they're here having fun," Vician said.\nAfter the ceremony, White said it was important for IU students to consider their fellow students who have been called to active duty.\n"Many students have delayed their studies to serve," White said. " When they return, it's important for the current student body to thank their fellow students for their service"