Veterans Day: Perham community rallies around country, troops

The Perham VFW and Perham High School students presented a moving and meaningful Veterans Day program at the school on Friday.

The program included a presentation of the colors, a tribute to prisoners of war and missing soldiers, the singing of the National Anthem and "God Bless America" by student choirs, a folding of the flag ceremony, TAPS, patriotic readings and more.

In one particularly memorable segment, Private Joseph Ahlfs, a senior at Perham High School, sang "American Soldier," accompanied by his music teacher, Sergeant Kevin Kosiak. The powerful number received a standing ovation from the audience.

M State public speaking students read President Barack Obama's Veterans Day Proclamation, and poems titled "The Flag" and "What is a Veteran."

The Voice of Democracy student essay winner, Leah Wuebben, read her winning essay, which tackled the subject of "Pride."

"To have pride in your country, you must have pride in your military," read Wuebben, adding that pride is the "difference between living in a country and being a citizen."

Also participating in the event were the Women's Auxiliary and representatives from the Minnesota Office of Military Funeral Honors. Student Council President, Mark Schumacher, emceed.

1/2: Perham High School choir students sing "God Bless America." Photo by Marie Nitke/FOCUS

2/2: A member of the Women's Auxiliary places a red flower into a vase as part of a symbolic tribute to all those soldiers missing in action, and to prisoners of war. Photo by Marie Nitke/FOCUS