Clearmont Historical Group Honors Veterans

Ira Roadifer at the Veteran’s Day Program

The annual Clearmont Historical Group Veteran’s Day program was held on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Clearmont Community Center. The date for Veterans Day is in honor of the ending of WW I, known at the time as ‘The Great War.”

Although the war officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, the fighting actually ceased seven months earlier when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.

The Veteran’s Day program included a selection of patriotic songs by members of the Arvada-Clearmont School band, Katelyn Monroe, Karly Peterson, and Will Betz. And taking the place of a missing band member was A/C music teacher Gerry Chase.

Mayor Rohrer spoke about the role of the military, the responsibilities of citizenship in the United States, and how God helped to create the United States for a reason. “People can’t ignore the invisible hand,” Rohrer said. “The Lord intended us (the US) to be here.” He added that the rights and privileges of the United States are for all men.

He quoted Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist papers saying “For my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system which without the finger of God [Luke11:20] never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests.”

Rohrer added, “Today, we recognize our veterans who have fought and continue to fight for our freedoms.”

He quoted Adlai Stevenson who said, “Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.”

Ira Roadifer and Bruce Yates talked about the memorial bricks they are selling as a fund-raiser for the Historical Group. The bricks will be engraved with a veteran’s name, branch of service and dates of service. They are being placed on the Clearmont Veteran’s Memorial, and can be purchased from the Clearmont Historical Group.

A highlight of the event was when the CHG honored Clearmont Veteran Phil Little. Little was born and raised in Clearmont, graduated from Buffalo High School in 1949, and served in the Korean War from 1952-1953. Bruce Yates talks about Little’s service to our country.

The Historical Group presented him with an engraved brick to be placed in the Veteran’s Memorial, and Roadifer presented him with a ‘Freedom’ coin.

Wrapping up the program was the unveiling of the ‘Patriot Rock,’ painted by Richard Bohlmann, local artist. Bohlmann’s grandchildren, Bronc and Brindle Vineyard, unveiled the rock, while Will Betz, of the ACHS Band, played Taps.

Around 30 people attended the annual event.