People gathered across New Hampshire Wednesday for Veterans Day events to remember and honor those who served in the armed forces.
At Goodwin Park in Portsmouth, the local high school band provided the patriotic soundtrack during a ceremony at a monument to those who died at the Battle of Gettysburg.
Bill Jennison watched on as a wreath was laid at the memorial. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1966 — something he called a life-changing experience.
“I learned a tremendous amount,” Jennison said. “If you're on a deck of a carrier, you have to pay attention constantly, otherwise you're no longer with us. So I think that carried me through life to pay attention when something's going on around you.”
A service, but also a benefit to those who serve
Bob Bode said he came to Wednesday’s ceremony in Portsmouth to make sure every veteran felt honored. Bode served in the Navy from 1974 to 1981, and he said as much as it was a sacrifice, soldiers and sailors benefit from the experience — or at least he did.
“It was a big growth time, a huge growth time, that I realized how much an individual can do if they can overcome the challenges that are presented to them,” he said.
The event also celebrated the sailors aboard the U.S.S. Mexico, which is undergoing an overhaul at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
'They want you to remember'
At the New Hampshire Veterans Home in Tilton, more than 100 people gathered Wednesday to honor all who have served in the U.S. military. The facility, which is undergoing a major expansion, is home to dozens of military veterans, including former soldiers, sailors and Air Force members who fought in Korea, Vietnam, and — in one case — World War II.
Leo Leclerc, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam, gave the invocation at the ceremony. He says all Americans should think about what military service means.
"People ought to bear in mind the sacrifices that any veteran has made,” Leclerc said. “They gave part of their life to serve their country. They are not looking for you to thank them, but they want you to remember."
The ceremony at the Veterans Home featured music, commendations from New Hampshire's congressional delegation, and a speech by New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan, who said elections depend on committed volunteers, including plenty of people who served in the military.
Charles Komenjko, a Navy veteran who lives in Tilton, says the reason people join the military and the reason Veterans Day should be honored can be boiled down to one idea.
"Freedom, your freedom,” he said. “That says it all, I think."
