Special Veterans Day program held at Stockton

Veterans Day is a time to honor and express gratitude to those who have served in the military, defending our freedoms and way of life.

At Stockton High School on Tuesday, November 11th, students, staff, and the VFW Auxiliary recognized the importance of this day through a special program celebrating our hometown heroes.

Through heartfelt musical performances, presentations, and various activities, all those present were instilled with a sense of respect and appreciation for their sacrifices, ensuring that our veterans' contributions are never forgotten.

Before the program began, the veterans were treated to coffee and refreshments hosted by the KAY organization, where they gathered to share their experiences.

Then the Welcome to start the event was given by Stockton Senior Cheyenne Hoeting, the KAYS and Student Council President.

The Welcome was followed by everyone standing for the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by SFC Tobias Wood, U.S.

Army Reserve, playing the 'Star Spangled Banner' on the trumpet.

The first performance in tribute to the veterans was given by the sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade choir, who sang 'Armed Force—The Pride of America!' The veterans stood when their Branch was announced to be recognized for their time served in the Army, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, or Air Force.

Next, the Kindergarten, first, and second-grade students took to the stage and sang 'Veterans March.' The boys and girls were decked out in their red, white, and blue to honor our heroes.

VFW Post 8873 Auxiliary President Deb Niermeier then gave the Quilts of Valor presentation, with seven recipients recognized with a hand-sown quilt. This year's presentation took on special meaning, as five of the seven veterans were from one family. Niermeier noted that the brothers and sisters had accumulated 73 years of service to our country, and that six of the ten siblings had served in the military.

But before the family members were honored, veterans Thomas Riffe and Ken Dreiling were recognized and presented with a quilt.

Thomas Riffe joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1966 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in 1967. He was assigned to the Tactical Air Command and the U.S. Air Force Security Service. His duty locations overseas included West Germany, Turkey, Greece, Japan, and the Panama Canal Zone, as well as stateside bases. After he resigned from active duty from the U.S. Air Force, Col. Riffee accepted an assignment with the Colorado Air National Guard and served as the Vice Commander of the 154th Air Control Group at Buckley Air National Guard Base in Aurora, Colorado. Col. Riffe retired on July 31st, 1973, after thirty years of service.

Diane Maddy quilted and presented Riffe with his Quilt of Valor.

Ken Dreiling joined the U.S. Army in 1966. He was sent to Fort Johnson, now called Fort Poke in Louisiana, that is a U.S. Army installation that hosts the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and provides realistic combat training for military units.

At Fort Poke, Dreiling was trained as a Machine Gunner and, during his training, received a trophy for scoring first in his Battalion. Dreiling went on to serve in 'The Big Red One,' a nickname for the 1st Infantry Division, the U.S. Army's oldest continuously serving division.

Its nickname comes from the large '1' on its shoulder patch, which has been authorized since World War I. It has a long history of combat and service, participating in major conflicts including both World Wars, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and recent deployments in Europe.

Dreiling received the Vietnam Service Award and a Bronze Star just before his 20th birthday. Cindy Newell made his quilt.

Next, the first of the five siblings was presented with his Quilt of Valor. All of the quilts were sewn especially for them by their aunt, Cindy Newell.

Jack Laurin enlisted in the U.S. Army, taking the oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Upon entering his Advanced Individual Training after basic training, he was se- the U.S. Army, taking the oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Upon entering his Advanced Individual Training after basic training, he was severely injured and spent a lot of time in the Medical Hold Unit at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He was then assigned to the detail and spent the remainder of his service as a camp scout.

Jill Jantz enlisted in the U.S Air Force in March 1985 while she was still in high school. After graduation, she entered basic training and started in Logistics. Then, 1st Sergeant Jantz was assigned to the Instructor Guard Zero at the Pentagon under the Quality Insurance Program for training in security and tactical knowledge. She was the training manager and squad superintendent of 117 members. During her service, Jantz was promoted to the prestigious rank of Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) in the U.S. Air Force.

Jantz served our country in Texas, Okinawa, Japan, at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington, at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Seattle, Washington, McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, and at the International Ground Station near Forbes Air Force Base in Topeka, Kansas. She earned the 3 Oak Leaf Cluster for Air Force Good Conduct, the 4 Oak Leaf Cluster for Outstanding Unit, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, the National Defense Service Medal for the Global War on Terrorism, the Air Force 3 Oak Leaf Cluster for Overseas Longevity Service Medal, the Air Force Recruiter Ribbon, the Air Force 1st Sergeant Ribbon, and the Non-Commissioned Officer PME Ribbon, which is awarded to graduates of the certified Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Military Education Schools. Jantz served our country for 30 years, retiring as Chief Master Sergeant in June of 2015.

Joel Laurin was at Kansas State University when the Twin Towers in New York City and the U.S. Pentagon in Washington, D.C., were hit by commercial airplanes on 9/11. That was Joel's incentive to help defend, protect, and serve the United States of America, so in 2002, he joined the U.S. Air Force National Guard. He was sent to Wichita Falls, Texas, for basic training, where he stayed to receive additional training in Air Space Ground Equipment. The goal is to prepare specialists to ensure aircraft readiness by keeping Air Force ground equipment operational and in top running order. After completing Airman Leadership School, Joel was promoted to E-5 with specific supervisory responsibilities as a Non-Commissioned Officer. He was sent to Washington, D.C., to serve on a Homeland Security detail for a joint air defense operation. Joel spent most of his six years in the Air Force National Guard, serving at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas.

Mary Jo Laurin joined the U.S. Army after she graduated from the University of Richmond in Virginia, where she received her degree in Kinesiology. Laurin wanted to get more education in Physical Therapy, and the U.S. Army said it would pay for it, which was her incentive to join. She started at Fort Campbell in Kentucky in 1984 as a 2nd Lt. She began serving with the 101st, which was then heavily involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

She helped injured soldiers returning from Iraq with her Physical Therapy training. She then served at Fort Sam Houston Army Base in San Antonio, Texas, before being stationed at Fort Knox in Kentucky. From there, she was sent overseas to Mannheim, Germany.

Laurin was promoted and served as Sergeant Major at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, and in 1992 at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, she was on staff, training enlisted Army recruits with Physical Training.

She earned her Master's at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and is also certified as a Health Promotion instructor for Master Fitness trainers. While on staff at the U.S. Army Edgeworth Arsenal in Maryland, she developed a program for Pregnancy Physical Fitness. Some of her awards include the Army Achievement Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. She has received the Legion of Merit Award, which is given for exceptional meritorious conduct in the performance of Outstanding Services and Achievements.

John Laurin's service began on April 1st, 2005, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. His basic training began in Fort Lawton, Oklahoma. As an E-4 Specialist, he was sent to advanced individual training at Sam Houston, Texas, to be a Combat Medic.

His duties began with the 2005 Federal Activation Assistance Program for Hurricane Katrina.

He was then assigned as a Combat Medic to A Company, 2nd Battalion, the 130th Field Artillery Brigade in Hiawatha, Kansas. In 2007, he completed Officer Candidate School and Infantry Officer Basic Courses at Fort Benning, Georgia. As a commissioned 2nd Lt., he was then assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry in Wichita. In 2008, he was transferred to Hurricane Gustav relief efforts in Louisiana. Laurin was deployed to Afghanistan in 2009 with the State of Kansas Agriculture Development Team 1 under Operation Enduring Freedom. Laurin was the Company Commander of B Co, 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry in Wichita, and also served as the State of Kansas Pre-Deployment Training and Assessment Executive Office in Salina, training, assessing, and deploying approximately 5,000 soldiers. Captain Laurin completed the U.S. Army Logistics Officer training at Fort Lee, Virginia, and was assigned to Operations Officers for the 169th Transportation Battalion in Olathe, Kansas, later serving as a Supply Operations Officer for the 287th Sustainment Brigade Support Operations in Hays, Kansas. In 2017, Laurin was deployed with the 35th Infantry Division to Centcom Operations in Kuwait for Operation Inherent Resolve, and in 2019, he was promoted to Major and assigned as the Supply Operations Officer for the 130th Field Artillery Brigade in Manhattan, Kansas. In 2021, Major John Laurin ended his military career after 16 years of service to his country, which he served in Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, and America. He was awarded the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Bronze Star, the American Commendation Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, and several other honors. Laurin could not attend the presentation, so his mother, Irma Newell, accepted the quilt on his behalf.

After the presentation of the Quilts of Valor, Auxiliary President Deb Niermeier recognized junior high students, Tessa Look and Omree Dibble, with a Certificate of Patriotism for their singing of the National Anthem at the Rooks County Free Fair, which was followed by the third, fourth, and fifth grade students singing 'Veterans, We're So Proud of You.'

The morning's event concluded with the song, 'Thank you, Soldiers,' by the high school choir.