Community remembers those who have served

Royal Canadian Armed Forces service members stand at attention for the U.S. and Canada national athems, during the Alaska National Guard and Alasska Department of Military and Veterans Afairs Veterans Day ceremony, on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richards, Nov. 11. Hundreds of veterans and their families attended the ceremonies, which included music, speeches and wreath layings. (U.S. Air Force photos/Staff Sgt. William Banton)

Community remembers those who have served

The Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Honor Guard, presents arms during the Royal Canadian Armed Forces Remembrance Day Cermeony at Fort Richardson National Cemetery on JBER, Nov. 11. Hundreds of veterans and their families attended the ceremonies, which included music, speeches and wreath layings. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. William Banton)

Community remembers those who have served

Air Force Lt. Gen. Russell J. Handy, commander, Alaskan Command, U.S. Northern Command; commander, Eleventh Air Force, Pacific Air Forces; and commander, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Region, North American Aerospace Defense Command, renders a salute to Royal Canadian Armed Forces service members during the Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Fort Richardson National Cemetery on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Nov. 11. Hundreds of veterans and their families attended the ceremonies, which included music, speeches and wreath laying. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. William Banton)

Community remembers those who have served

Published Nov. 18, 2015
By Air Force Staff Sgt. William Banton
JBER Public Affairs

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- The Alaska National Guard and the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs hosted a Veterans Day ceremony on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in coordination with the Royal Canadian Armed Forces Remembrance Day Ceremony at Fort Richardson National Cemetery, Nov. 11.

Hundreds of veterans and their families attended the ceremonies, which included music, speeches, presentation of awards and wreaths and readings of proclamations from President Barack Obama and Alaska Gov. Bill Walker.

"Our veterans left everything they knew and loved and served with exemplary dedication and courage so we could all know a safer America and a more just world," Obama wrote in his proclamation. "They have been tested in ways the rest of us may never fully understand, and it is our duty to fulfill our sacred obligation to our veterans and their families.

"On Veterans Day, and every day, let us show them the extraordinary gratitude they so rightly deserve, and let us recommit to pledging our full support for them in all they do."

Walker echoed the sentiment in his proclamation to the state.

"Veterans Day is a time to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to uphold the nation's founding principles of liberty, opportunity, and justice for all," Walker wrote. "Alaska is home to approximately 75,000 military veterans who have served our nation honorably and selflessly, both at home and abroad, protecting the liberty of our nation and liberating the oppressed from tyranny and terror ... today we express our gratitude for the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect our families and our freedom, and for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of others."

The keynote address for the day's event was made by Brig. Gen. Laurie Hummel, Alaska National Guard adjutant general, who spent time talking the term hero and how it is a too easily used substitute for harder conversations which society should be having about the human cost of war.

Hummel defined the word hero as "a person of character who in the face danger, adversity or from a position of weakness displays courage, bravery or self-sacrifice for a greater good."

"That is you, never doubt for a moment even if it isn't self-evident to you," Hummel said, addressing the veterans. "True heroism is remarkably sober and very undramatic. I would add that it's not the courage to surpass all others at whatever the cost but the courage serve others at whatever the cost [that defines a hero]."

The day's events concluded with the Remembrance Day Ceremony, which provided an opportunity for JBER leadership to honor Canadian service members with moments of silence and laying wreaths.

In Canada, Remembrance Day celebrates Canadians who died in the First and Second World Wars, Korean War, Afghanistan and peacekeeping duties.