WESTPHALIA  — Sgt. Blake Wiles, a 2021 Fatima graduate, spoke of the sacrifices made by veterans and their families at the Veterans Day program at Westphalia on Monday.

“As stated by Martha Allen, ‘Today is the day of victory, which is won on the floor of the blood of millions of soldiers and innocent people,’” said Wiles, who completed Missouri Army National Guard Basic Training in the summer following his junior year, and entered his senior year as a PFC. “I don’t say this to set a negative tone, but to create an understanding of the sacrifice and commitment of the soldiers that put on a uniform to support the United States of America, past and present. The freedoms we have (that) and so many individuals take for granted — the right to vote, the right to bear arms, freedom of speech, equality of race and gender, just to name a few — are all freedoms that are guaranteed to us because of the sacrifice of these soldiers.”

Following graduation, Sgt. Wiles completed his Advanced Individual Training and achieved the rank of SPC. He was on active duty at Fort Wood in 2022-23, working as an assistant main supervisor for maintaining military equipment. Sgt. Wiles is a squad leader in the Missouri Army National Guard’s National Transportation Commission and leads monthly maintenance operations.

While in school at Fatima, Wiles admitted, he wasn’t great at basketball and looked for arrowheads in the dirt during baseball games. “But being a soldier is something that I accepted, and I’m proud to serve you in this United States of America,” said Sgt. Wiles. “Thank you to all our veterans here today for your service and sacrifice for this great country we call home. I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to my mentors and coaches, Kurt Strope and Les Rosenborough. Without these two men, I would not have had the confidence, strength, and perseverance to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps and join the Missouri Army National Guard. Strope, thank you for believing in me. I appreciate your guidance more than you know.

“To Mrs. Temmen, I was not the best student, and I struggled in school,” he continued. “Your guidance and patience in my high school career helped me succeed and move forward to this chapter in my life. I greatly appreciate all the time and effort you gave to me and continue to give to your students today. In conclusion, my suggestion to you is to thank a teacher, thank a coach, and especially today, thank these men, women, and their families who have sacrificed so much for us. They have earned it. Be proud of this great country and be proud of being American. God bless America, and God bless the OC.”

Fatima Superintendent Chuck Woody in welcoming guests to the assembly explained that this year marks the 105th year since World War I, also known as the Great War, and the War to End All Wars, ended.

An armistice was signed on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. A year later, Armistice Day was celebrated on the anniversary of the war’s end.

Later, the honor was renamed Veterans Day to remember all veterans and the sacrifices they made for this country. “Although World War I was known as the war to end all wars, that was not true,” said Woody. “ Since World War I, over 600,000 service men and women lost their lives fighting for our country. Going back to the American Revolution, over 1.3 million Americans have died fighting for our beliefs and for our country. Memorial Day was set about the American Civil War to honor fallen Union soldiers. However, Veterans Day is set aside to remember all those who serve, especially the living. Through the words of the song, ‘All Gave Some, Some Gave All,’ we must remember those who made it home just as much and never forget them. The sacrifices they made allow us to live in freedom. I have quoted the following words in previous Veterans Day events, but I feel the words are just as true today. In November of 1863, President Abraham Lincoln stood in a small town in Pennsylvania and gave what became one of the most famous speeches by an American. In 271 words, President Lincoln was able to say in a couple of minutes what scholars of the day couldn’t say in over an hour. President Lincoln said. ‘The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work that they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.’”

Woody added that we as American citizens must never forget what servicemen and women have done and are doing today to protect the freedoms and opportunities in this country. “I challenge each of the students here today to thank the veteran,” he said. “The day-to-day activities we take for granted are freedoms we have because of those sitting in front of us now and those that have gone before. To the veterans sitting here today, from me, personally, thank you.”

A reading by three students further highlighted the importance of honoring veterans.

“World War I, known at the time as the Great War, officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles, outside the town of Versailles, France,” Jace Eisterhold read. “However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities between allied nations and Germany, went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of the war to end all wars. Veterans Day continues to be observed on Nov. 11, regardless of what day of the week it falls. The observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the day but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day — a celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of their country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.”

In the second part, Peyten Helton read, “When Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner almost 200 years ago, he called America the land of the free and the home of the brave. Those words are as true today as they were then. Throughout this nation’s history, America’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen have bravely answered the call to defend our freedom, to aid our friends and allies, and to turn back aggressors. We can never fully repay our debt war of gratitude to the more than 650,000 American service members who died in a battle or the 1.4 million who were wounded. We can help recognize and thank the 25 million veterans still living today. These words are inscribed on the creative War Memorial in Washington, D.C. — ‘Our Nation honors her Sons and Daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.’”

Dakota Jarrett noted that those words apply equally to World War I, World War II, Vietnam War, Korean War, and Gulf War veterans as well as today’s active duty service members — tomorrow’s veterans helping maintain peace throughout the world. “Today, it is our privilege to say thank you to all of the American veterans to let them know that we appreciate them for their service, honor, and sacrifices,” Jarrett said. “The price of freedom is high. We cannot afford to forget those willing to pay today. We celebrate America’s veterans for keeping this nation the land of the free and the home of the brave. Thank you, veterans for all you do and have done for us.”

In addition to a performance of the Star Spangled Banner by Journey Markway, Renee Wilbers, Rose Backes, Lily Gregory, and Gavin Poston, Fatima Band Director Amy Backes led the Jazz and Varsity bands in several numbers, and the choir performed.

A slide presentation showcased photos of some 400 Osage County veterans.

Trace Walters and Royce Morfeld played “Taps” to conclude the ceremony.