WESTPHALIA — U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Eisterhold told students and community members at last Tuesday’s assembly that Veterans Day is more than a day on the calendar.

“It is about recognizing the men and women who have worn the uniform, who have raised the right hand and said, ‘I will serve,’” he said. “For me, that calling started when I was very young. Like many of you, I grew up watching history unfold on a TV screen. I still remember Sept. 11, 2001. I was just a kid sitting in front of the TV watching events. I didn’t fully understand at the time, but I knew one thing: our world had changed. I saw first-responders running toward danger. I saw service members stepping up, and I realized there were people out there who were really willing to risk everything for others. That moment stayed with me, and years later, it became one of the reasons I chose to serve in the military.”

Sgt. Eisterhold, a Rich Fountain native, graduated from Fatima in 2015 and immediately went into the Army. He served as a Black Hawk crew chief with the 135th assault Helicopter Battalion out of Whiteman Air Force Base. He has logged over 400 hours as a crew chief door gunner.

“Serving has taught me many lessons — discipline, teamwork, sacrifice, and responsibility,” he said. “But perhaps the most important lesson is this: freedom is never automatic. It doesn’t simply exist on its own. It is defended and preserved because ordinary Americans are willing to step forward and do extraordinary things.”

Eisterhold said the truly special aspect of choosing to serve is that not everyone can do it. Fewer than 1% of Americans serve. “It takes commitment, discipline, and willingness to put something greater than yourself first, and yet every man and woman who does serve does so by choice, because the United States military is the only force in the world that is 100% volunteer,” said Eisterhold. “No one is compelled to serve. They choose to stand guard for the rest of us, to defend freedom, and to carry the weight of that responsibility with pride. That’s what makes veterans so remarkable. They come from every walk of life, every background, every part of this country.”

Some serve in combat; some serve in peace, he noted. “Some return home and continue serving their communities, and some give their lives the ultimate sacrifice,” said Eisterhold. “What unites them all is a shared commitment to something bigger than themselves, and behind every veteran is also a family that served in its own way — spouses, children, and parents who waited at home, who prayed and supported their loved one. Their sacrifices are part of this story, too.”

Eisterhold provided a quote from former President Ronald Reagan: “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

“These words remind us that it is our duty, not just as service members, but as citizens, to protect the freedoms and values we cherish,” Eisterhold added. “To the students here today, I want to say this: Some of you may one day choose to serve, just as I did, maybe in the military, maybe as first responders, teachers, doctors, or community leaders. Service takes many forms. You don’t have to wear a uniform to make a difference. You can serve by being a good friend or helping those in need, by standing up for what’s right, and by striving every day to make your community and your country stronger.

“So today, as we honor our veterans, let us also make a promise that we will never take their sacrifices for granted, that we will live lives worthy of the freedom they’ve protected, and that we will remember, not just today, but every day, that their courage made our way of life possible,” he continued. “On behalf of my fellow service members, past and present, I want to say thank you for honoring our veterans. Thank you for remembering their sacrifices and for keeping their example alive. May God bless our veterans, and may God bless the United States.”

Eisterhold currently lives in Westphalia with his wife and four children, and is a captain with the Westphalia Fire Protection District.

In 1918, WWI came to an end when the Allies and German forces reached an armistice on the 11th day of the 11th month, at the 11th hour.

In 1938, it was declared a federal holiday promoting world peace. In 1954, a proclamation was signed designating Nov. 11 as Veterans Day, and from then on, the day was designated to honor veterans of all wars.

VFW Post 4756 and American Legion Post 317 members presented the flags, and veterans were honored with the playing of several musical pieces by the FHS band under the direction of Amy Backes.

Fatima Superintendent John Kitchens announced that seniors Jesse Schroeder and Dakota Jarrett have enlisted for military service upon graduation.

Trace Walters closed the ceremony with the playing of “Taps.”