Approximately two dozen people gathered in Leeds Center by the Veterans’ Memorial on Veterans Day to express their gratitude for the men and women who were in the Armed Services over the years.

Members of the Leeds Central School “Eagle Ambassadors” raised the flag and lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. After singing The Star Spangled Banner, the group learned a bit about some of Leeds’ World War I veterans.

Richard Fochtmann read the names of 33 veterans, and Laura Juraska told what each of them had listed as their occupation, giving an idea of the broad range of Leeds’ population at that time. Some were farmers, and many worked for the railroad. There was a physician, a musician, and a number who worked at lumber mills.

Juraska also shared a few stories from these veterans’ days in the service. One of the most moving was from Herb Libby, who was on the front line at the time of the Armistice and told of the troops on both sides firing off one final volley at 10:59 a.m. In later years, he regretted having done that, thinking what a waste it would have been to cause someone’s death at that last minute.

Members of Girl Scout Troop #454 then laid a wreath in memory of the many veterans, and Rev. Steve Allman of the Leeds Community Church shared thoughts and a prayer.

The program closed with those gathered singing America The Beautiful.