00:07Hey, I'm Dan Williams, I'm the post-1980 American Ancient Commander.
00:11We couldn't let today go by without thanking our veterans.
00:16You know we've got a lot of them here in Teller County, it's about 20% of this county
00:19are veterans.
00:21We have widows and some in this room right now.
00:23We have a lot of people that have served their country and their families have sacrificed
00:27along with them.
00:28So this is your day.
00:29So this is important because the community gets to say thank you to the veterans, the
00:34veterans feel honored, they get a free meal, they get to talk to each other.
00:38Some of these veterans are in our organizations, a lot of them aren't, they just come out of
00:42the hills once a year to be recognized and it's our privilege to do it.
00:46It's about closure, it's about remembrance and it's about honoring those that didn't
00:51make it home.
00:51A small table which occupies a place of dignity and honor, it is set for one, symbolizing the
00:58fact that members of our armed forces are missing from our ranks.
01:02They are unable to be with their loved ones and families so we join together to pay humble
01:07tribute to them and to bear witness to their continued absence.
01:11A slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of their bitter fate.
01:16The salt sprinkled on the plate reminds us of the countless volunteers of fannucs as they
01:23wait.
01:24The glass is inverted.
01:26They cannot trust with us at this time.
01:30The chair is empty.
01:32They are not here.
01:34The cannon is reminiscent of a light of hope which lives in our hearts to illuminate their
01:41way home, our way through their captors, to open arms of a grateful nation.
01:47The American flag reminds us that many of them may never return and have paid a supreme sacrifice
01:53to ensure our freedom.
01:56Let us pray that all of our comrades will soon be back within our ranks.
02:01Let us remember and never forget their sacrifice.
02:05May God forever watch over them and protect them in their madness.
02:10If you had a uniform, please stand.
02:12Let us pray!
