Nov 11, 2009 By Patty Yauger 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – They laid their dreams aside to answer the call to duty and on Tuesday, the Connellsville Area High School Patriots organization, students and staff honored the veterans from World War II and the wars that have followed for their sacrifice and commitment. Nearly 100 veterans and current servicemen, representing the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, were greeted with applause as they made their way across the senior high school auditorium stage.

Former district superintendent and Vietnam veteran Gerald Browell served as the keynote speaker for the event and said that it was fitting that such a ceremony should be held in Connellsville as it is where Veterans Day had its beginnings.

It was in 1919, one year following the Nov. 11 signing of the Armistice that brought World War I to a close that veteran and Connellsville resident Max C. Floto, with the help of Thomas Scott, began a campaign to annually honor those that had served in the war.

The two men were successful in their efforts and across Pennsylvania each Nov. 11 veterans were honored for their service.

“Armistice Day became a national holiday in 1938 and eventually, in 1954, it became known as Veterans Day,” said Browell. “A day to honor all veterans of the military, regardless of whether their service was during peace time or at a time of war.”

Congress later recognized Floto as the “Father of Armistice Day,” he added.

“We must never forget our veterans; we must never forget our history,” said Browell. “We must never forget Lexington, Valley Forge, the Battle of New Orleans, Gettysburg or the Battle of San Juan Hill.

“We must never forget Pearl Harbor, Iwo Jima, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Tet Offensive, the Persian Gulf, Bosnia, Operation Desert Storm, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan and sadly, Fort Hood, Texas.”

Every veteran has a story and each war generates a different response by the public.

The returning soldiers from the world wars were greeted with enthusiasm while those coming back from the Korean War were forgotten.

The Cold War veterans, said Browell, were given little notice or appreciation.

“Vietnam divided the country and the veterans were often scorned or ridiculed,” Browell said.

Thankfully, Browell said, those returning from Operation Desert Storm and from service in Iraq and Afghanistan are being well received when they come home.

“There is a rebirth of patriotism and new respect for the veterans,” he said.

“We’ve learned some hard lessons over the years, such as it is very important to give individual support to the servicemen and women and their families that are fighting a war even though we might be debating the merits of the war as a nation.

“We must never forget, that any war, once entered requires a total commitment of resources without restrictions.

The death of a soldier fighting for their country can only be acceptable when others are able to live in freedom, said Browell.

“We look forward to the day when a generation has passed without first-hand knowledge of war,” he said.

“Until that day comes, we must be ever mindful of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that ‘injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'”

Also taking part in the ceremony were the Chamber Ensemble, high school band, district Superintendent David R. Goodin and high school principal Nick Bosnic.