SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Madeline Milillo told about 100 people gathered Monday for the Veterans Day Memorial Service that they should never forget the members of the military.
"Every day, we should honor those who served our country," Milillo, Schuylkill Haven, said during the 30-minute service at the Schuylkill County Vietnam Veterans Memorial near Penn State Schuylkill campus.
Milillo was one of two Schuylkill Haven Area High School students who spoke at the ceremony, held annually to mark the day set aside to honor all past and present members of the nation's armed forces.
Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day is celebrated on the anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation renaming it Veterans Day as a way to honor all military members, Thomas J. Cleary, Tremont, a Navy veteran and instructor at Penn State Schuylkill, told the crowd.
"Veterans Day is celebrated on Nov. 11, regardless of what day of the week it is," he said.
Cleary said 30 of the 43 men who have been president of the nation also served in the military and their examples are ones that should be followed by business owners and honored by everyone.
"Veterans are a good choice for companies looking for quality employees," he said. "Let us demand that the promises made to our veterans and their families be honored."
Holly Parrish, Schuylkill Haven, the other Schuylkill Haven Area High School student who spoke at the ceremony, remembered her family members who served in the military, including three who died in combat. She said their examples are valuable ones.
"When I think of a veteran, I think of courage," Parrish said.
Kelly M. Austin, chancellor of Penn State Schuylkill, said service is another defining characteristic of every veteran.
"All veterans have given something to their country during their time of service. Thousands have paid the ultimate price during the last decade alone," he said in opening the ceremony. "Freedoms we hold dear do not come without a price and are not truly free."
Sgt. First Class Leroy Bates, Pine Grove, who helps lead the Pine Grove Area High School Junior ROTC program, said the youth in his program, who helped conduct Monday's ceremony, are examples of what military structure, combined with American citizenship principles, can produce.
"The Junior ROTC is a success story," Bates said. "Citizenship ... that's our mission. That's our watchword."
Pine Grove Area is one of 1,645 schools that have 281,000 cadets in the nationwide JROTC program, according to Bates.
Many of them could be honorees at future Veterans Day ceremonies.
Austin said all citizens should honor those who have been in the Armed Forces - not just one day a year.
"Embrace our veterans on this day and each day," he said.