GUERNSEY – They are our fathers, our sisters, our uncles, our grandmothers, our cousins.  They are old and grey, they are young and agile.  They are carpenters and secretaries, teachers and ministers, bankers and salespeople.  They drink Coke and Pepsi and Budweiser and even Jack Daniels. They’ve been on the front lines of war and in the halls of congress.  They are affluent and unemployed.  

But despite all their likes and differences, they are comrades in arms, united by the common oath to which they subscribed when their country needed them.  They are the ones who put personal priorities aside and changed our world.  Through their unselfish sacrifices, sometimes at immeasurable personal cost, they have paid the bill to assure all of us that we will continue to live in a nation that values all the freedoms our founding fathers intended.

And so it is that we take a day each November to honor these people and thank them by our own words and deeds for what they have done and continue to do each day.  

This coming Friday, we will honor our local Veterans with several special events. The Veterans Day program will be held at Guernsey-Sunrise High School at 9 a.m.  in the west gym.  Please join with the students of Guernsey-Sunrise Schools to recognize our local Veterans.  

The auxiliaries of the local VFW and American Legion will host a day long soup lunch/supper.  They will be serving soups including chili, potato, chicken noodle, and ham and beans, as well as a variety of desserts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  There is no charge but all donated funds will be used to continue purchasing Veterans grave markers for the Guernsey, Hartville and Fort Laramie cemeteries.

On Saturday, November 11th, at 10 a.m., the public is also invited to attend the ribbon cutting of the new Veterans Memorial at Fort Laramie’s North Park.    

Guernsey’s VFW Post 4471 and their Auxiliary has an outstanding presence in the local area.  

Post 4471 officers include Steve Keigley, Commander; Jerry Wood, Sr. Vice; Don Mack, Jr. Vice; Ron Hughes, Chaplain; Bob Holloway, Quartermaster; and Joe Norfolk, Adjutant.

The Auxiliary officers for Post 4471 include Pam Cain, President; Marian Janas, Sr. Vice; Ellie Behrman, Jr. Vice; Troy Reichert, Conductor; Geraldine Delgado, Guard; Tracy Fink, Chaplain; Sharon Holloway, Treasurer; Sally Mack, Secretary; Mickey Rexius, Trustee #1; Doug Janas, Trustee #2; and Phyllis Vanous, Trustee #3.  

Through the commitment and hard work of these officers and their members, the Post holds a breakfast on the last Sunday of each month.  This has become a great tradition that not only gives community members to get together but the proceeds help defray monthly expenses to keep the doors open.  The building has undergone substantial renovation through a grant program and partnership with the Skills USA program and technical trades classes at Guernsey-Sunrise High School.  It is one of the few places the community has that can be rented out for special events as well. 

The VFW hosts the annual Memorial Day observances at the Hartville and Guernsey cemeteries each year.

This past Saturday, members of the post and auxiliary could be seen outside of Guernsey, cleaning up litter from the ditches along Highway 26.     

The post also sponsors Bingo on Sunday afternoons beginning at 1 p.m.  This offers another opportunity for socializing with your neighbors and have some fun.

The post participates in many events to promote Veterans and offers numerous programs nationwide to assist Veterans with everything from medical needs to educational funding, and financial assistance in a variety of categories. 

Guernsey’s post has also worked closely with the public school to promote patriotism to students through several programs, including the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen.  These are competitions in writing and speech held for students of junior and senior high age.  Local winners move on to state, regional and national competition where they can earn sizable scholarships for college.

New members are always welcome.  Membership in the VFW is restricted to any active or honorably discharged officer or enlisted person who is a citizen of the United States and who has served in its armed forces “in any foreign war, insurrection or expedition, which service shall be recognized by the authorization or the issuance of a United States military campaign medal.    The VFW was established in September of 1899 with the merger of two similar organizations serving Veterans in Ohio and Colorado.  It is headquartered in Kansas City, MO.  Worldwide, their membership as of 2020 was 1.6 million between the posts and their auxiliaries.Across the United States, the VFW Posts and Auxiliary programs have provided assistance to soldiers from World War I to the present.  They are available all days and all hours to the men and women who guard our freedom.  Now it is our turn to honor them and let them know their efforts are appreciated.  Please take a few moments this week to do so.  Freedom is not free.