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Local veterans to visit schools Tuesday, recognize Veterans Day

Teresa Ristow

— Local veterans will be honored with a variety of programs and activities around Steamboat Springs on Tuesday in recognition of Veterans Day.

Programs with students will take place at Strawberry Park and Soda Creek elementary schools, organized by the local American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, and veterans are strongly encouraged to attend.

The event at Soda Creek will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the school, 220 Park Ave., and will feature student singing performances and other presentations, said Jim Stanko, a veteran involved with the American Legion and VFW.



“The music teacher there does a fantastic job. It’s never the same program,” Stanko said.

The school has been holding Veterans Day events for about 10 years, Stanko said.



Last year, about 35 or 40 veterans attended the program, and each introduced themselves and their service history to students. Younger veterans from more recent wars are encouraged to attend.

“We really are pushing to get as many veterans as possible,” Stanko said. “And the younger veterans, they’re our newest group of veterans and we’d like to give them some recognition.”

A separate program will take place at 2:30 p.m. at Strawberry Park Elementary School, 39620 Amethyst St.

Select veterans will be talking to fifth-grade students prior to the program, teaching students the proper way to march and present the flags for the event. Veterans at this event also will be asked to introduce themselves.

Those attending the programs should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled start times, and Post members should wear white shirts, dark pants and caps.

Stanko said the annual events are rewarding for veterans.

“We really appreciate the programs these kids put on,” Stanko said. “It’s pretty touching.”

Also that day, a group of veterans will speak with local homeschooled students about Veterans Day and the military, Stanko said.

“We try to give them some of the information they would be receiving in the regular schools,” he said. “The military is not all ‘shoot-em-up bang’ but the military is really a life-building experience.”

Veterans will visit with other veterans living at the Doak Walker House at Casey’s Pond Senior Living community Tuesday. The visit will take place from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. and will include veterans living in other areas of Casey’s Pond.

An annual breakfast for veterans also will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at the VFW Post, 425 Lincoln Ave. A donation for the breakfast is suggested.

And as they have in previous years, Johnny B. Good’s Diner will allow veterans to eat for free Tuesday.

There are roughly 1,800 veterans living in Routt County, Stanko said.

Veterans Day takes place on the anniversary of the end of World War I to honor United States veterans, and state and federal offices will be closed in observance.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow


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