Veterans Day ceremony offers thanks, looks to challenges ahead

Speakers at Johnson County’s Veterans Day Observance in Lenexa talked of challenges ahead, exhorted parents to provide kids with education, morals and ethics and also took a minute to warn against bringing terror suspects to Fort Leavenworth.

But their main message was a big thank you to the people who have served in the U.S. military.

Some 500 people crowded into the Lenexa National Guard Armory on Wednesday for a tribute that included speeches by military and political dignitaries, the presentation of memorial wreaths, a rifle salute and patriotic music provided by the Olathe Northwest High School Raven Pride Bands and Mill Creek Middle School Choir.

Veterans from wars dating to World War II also were recognized.

“As veterans, we appreciate the recognition,” Vincent Chirafisi of Lenexa said afterward.

Chirafisi, an Army veteran who served in Saigon in the 1970s, added, “It’s for all of us, not just for us standing here but for those not standing here.”

Frank Rhoback, an Overland Park Army veteran who served during the Vietnam War, said, “It’s a time to reflect on your years of service.”

Brigadier Gen. Victor Braden, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts and U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder delivered their thoughts on the day.

Roberts touched on a couple of Congress’ more controversial issues — the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi and the question of whether to transfer detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Fort Leavenworth.

He was particularly adamant about the latter, objecting to the idea of bringing 59 prisoners to what he called the intellectual center of the Army. “All of a sudden Fort Leavenworth becomes North Gitmo. No, not on our watch,” Roberts said.

There has never been an intelligence assessment of the security implications to this area if the prisoners are moved, he said, adding that Fort Leavenworth could become a “bull’s-eye” for future terror plots because of its military importance and the terrorists held there.

“We live in very troubled times, very dangerous times. There’s no reason on earth to have these prisoners come to Fort Leavenworth,” he said.

Roberts also said he remains committed to investigating the embassy attack in Libya in 2012. “For 10 days (after the attack) we heard something that simply was not true. We are learning the truth and we need to learn the truth,” he said.

Braden spoke of future challenges to the military from China, Russia, ISIS and Al Qaeda and illicit drug networks, as well as from providing humanitarian assistance to people in need.

He pointed out that some of America’s past wartime foes, including Japan, Germany and Vietnam, have become economically stable and friendly with the U.S.

“At the end of the day, our values and our market systems win,” Braden said.

The situation with the countries in the Middle East will become a generational struggle, he said. “So we ask ourselves this: Is the blood and treasure being expended worth it? Time will tell.”

A strong military of the future needs not only the right equipment and doctrine, but young people who are “educated and well trained with a broad range of life experience,” he said.

He asked parents to provide that education, ethic and to instill “the concept of American exceptionalism, that yes, we are exceptional in this world, and that is evident in our military activities, our economic activities and our social activities.”

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 10:04 AM with the headline "Veterans Day ceremony offers thanks, looks to challenges ahead."