‘We do it because we love our country’: Vet, Tri County alum speaks on Veteran’s Day

DeWITT - In honor of Veteran’s Day Tri County Public School held a special ceremony in which the elementary and high school bands performed patriotic songs, area veterans were honored, and a special guest gave a powerful speech.

Mike Hager is a retired veteran who served 21 years in 17 different countries. He’s also a Tri County alum.

“So today is that special day,” Hager said. “We celebrate Veteran’s Day to celebrate the brave men and women who have served our great nation.”

The event kicked off and ended with a presentation and removal of colors, as well as the third grade class singing the national anthem. Hager gave the school a bit of history as to how Veteran’s Day originated and the significance of its November 11th date.

“In the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, 1918. The end of World War I. The war to end all wars,” Hager said. “And it wasn’t until 1926 when congress finally passed the law and said we’re going to make this a national holiday.”

Referring to the many sacrifices veterans make while serving, he explained why veterans do what they do.

“Veterans have sacrificed holidays, birthdays, birth of a child, family events, graduations,” Hager said. “Howe do we do it? Why do we do it?”

Hager closed Ronald Regan’s 1983 quote about Veterans Day and also gave a nod to families of veterans and those in service.

“They sacrifice. They sacrifice more than veterans I think, ” Hager said. “Because they’re our support groups. They take care of us, they nurse us when we come home, they support us, heal us, and love us. And without them we couldn’t have done what we did.”