Veterans Day is held on the anniversary of the end of World War I to honor veterans and victims of all wars. This year, because of no school due to state football, the Veterans Day Program was held on November 10. Students of Avon attended and the community was also invited to attend. This year the guest speaker was Mr. Justin Lukkes. Lukkes spoke about what Veterans Day means to him and what it is like to be a veteran. He also showed pictures from his deployments and explained them.

Lukkes’ first deployment was in 2004-2005. He was deployed to Iraq. He was then deployed again in 2015-2016 to Kuwait and Jordan. While deployed, Lukkes missed a lot back home. He said, “To be expected you miss out on things that are going on back home. Some people get homesick...for some reason I did not. It is definitely different, especially when you're young like I was in a totally different place. But you experience a lot, learn a lot, and grow up fast.” Being deployed is a sacrifice that teaches the soldiers many valuable lessons. From being deployed, Lukkes learned that, “life is simple, life can be short, and that our problems back home are nothing compared to what people in third world war-torn countries are going through. It really makes you realize how good we have it here in the U.S.”

Lukkes wants everyone to know what a veteran is. He also wants the students to know and understand the sacrifices that all of the soldiers make to keep the people back home safe.

Other high school contributions to the program included the posting of colors with Sarah Swier and Katie Gretschmann; “The National Anthem” by Ashley Tolsma, Kimmy Tolsma, Swier, and Makayla Kopp; “Taps” by Jonathan Hento, Tyler Tjeerdsma, Gunnar Voigt, and Lance Odens; comments by Student Body President Samantha Brodeen; and “Make Them Hear You” by the AHS chorus.