WEBB CITY, Mo. — Across the country, Veterans Day is a time to pause, reflect and recognize the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States military. In Webb City, that appreciation was on full display Wednesday as students, veterans and community members came together to honor those who have served.
Webb City High School and its Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) hosted a Veterans Day assembly Wednesday morning, welcoming veterans for a morning of recognition, reflection and gratitude.
The assembly featured performances by Webb City High School band and choir students, while the JROTC Honor Guard presented the colors. Special guests and speakers also attended, giving students an opportunity to hear firsthand about the sacrifices and experiences that come with military service.
One of the speakers was Tyler Christensen, the Webb City R-7 School District’s first director of safety and security. Christensen is a former U.S. Army staff sergeant who served 18 years in the military, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He also brings 15 years of law enforcement experience, having served as a patrol corporal with the Joplin Police Department and a detective with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.
Christensen shared memories from his time in uniform, including one experience in Iraq that demonstrated the bond between service members.
During one deployment, a fellow soldier and close friend was seriously injured when a vehicle in his convoy was struck. When medical personnel ran out of blood, an urgent call went out for donations.
Christensen recalled walking outside and seeing lines of military vehicles carrying soldiers, Marines and airmen who had dropped what they were doing to help save a fellow service member — even though many had never met him.
For Christensen, that moment represented the true meaning of military service.
He also spoke about the sacrifices made by generations of veterans who came before him and encouraged students to remember that the freedoms they enjoy today came at a cost.
Quoting former President John F. Kennedy, Christensen reminded those in attendance that gratitude should be shown through the way people live their lives, not simply through words.
The celebration continued at Memorial Park, where local veterans and community members gathered in recognition of the day.
For Joe Wilson, a U.S. Navy veteran, and Don Wooten, a U.S. Army veteran, Veterans Day is also a time to remember the friends and fellow service members who never made it home.
Wooten, who serves as commander of Webb City American Legion Post 322, and Wilson, commander of Webb City VFW Post 7630, said having a place where veterans can gather and talk with others who understand their experiences is especially important.
Wilson said sometimes veterans need someone who will simply listen.
"I would rather talk to somebody, especially if they're having a tough time. I would rather listen to them for two hours than have to go to their funeral because they decided that was the only way out," Wilson said.
The two organizations work together to support veterans and members of the community, including helping veterans in need with expenses and other assistance.
Another veteran who shared his experiences was Terry Wayne Green, a U.S. Army veteran who served two years, including one year in Vietnam.
Green was awarded the Purple Heart after the vehicle he was riding in struck a landmine during a convoy, throwing him from the vehicle and leaving him with a hip injury.
He recalled returning home from Vietnam and not receiving the welcome many veterans experience today.
"When I came back from Vietnam, we never got welcomed," Green said. “ I don't know what they blamed us for it, but we didn't want to go.”
Decades later, he said, the experience has changed. Today, he is greeted with handshakes, hugs and people thanking him for his service.
Green also discussed the lasting health effects he continues to face from his military service, including Parkinson's disease, which he attributes to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. Despite those challenges, he said he is grateful for the support he receives from the community.
Supporting veterans is also a year-round commitment for organizations like the Webb City Elks Lodge No. 861.
Exalted Ruler Phillip Cook said veterans have been one of the organization's primary focuses for more than a century.
The Elks have supported veterans through hospital programs, assistance for homeless veterans and welcome-home kits for veterans moving into permanent housing.
Cook said the organization's commitment is personal, with both his father and grandfather having served in the military.
"I'm not a veteran myself, but I sure am thankful for those guys and ladies that protected us, some of them that went to battle to protect our country and our freedom," Cook said.
He added that while Veterans Day provides an important opportunity to recognize military service, appreciation should extend beyond one day.
"It should happen every day, if you ask me," Cook said.
From the stories shared in classrooms to the conversations among veterans at Memorial Park, Wednesday's observances served as a reminder that behind every uniform is a person, a family and a story of sacrifice.
For some, Veterans Day brings memories of friends who never returned home. For others, it is a chance to reflect on the experiences that shaped their lives or to finally receive the welcome and appreciation they may not have received when they returned.
And for the next generation, it is an opportunity to understand that the freedoms they experience every day were protected by those willing to serve.
This Veterans Day, Webb City took time to say thank you — not just with words, but by listening, remembering and honoring the men and women who answered the call to serve.