Northland Honors Veterans From All Military Branches

DULUTH - Northlanders are doing their part to recognize those who have served. The Northland honored Veterans from all military branches with a parade, march and ceremony Tuesday. “You always get the, 'Thank you for your service and sometimes it’s hard to figure out what to say next,'” said active duty member of the U.S. Navy, Jeffery Barteldt. “Thank you for your service," the phrase that comes to define how America expresses gratitude for it’s men and women in uniform will be said a lot. “It’s really great to support our veterans and thank them on this Veterans Day,” said executive director of the Red Cross, Dan Williams. Waving flags in the air, marching to the beat of this country’s freedom and honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice is what Veterans Day is all about. But what does a holiday, a single day, mean for those millions of veterans who serve our country? “It’s so very, very important,” said U.S Navy Veteran, Larry Kubiak. “It’s almost overwhelming,” Barteldt said. Members of several branches made their way to the Veterans Day Parade Tuesday morning. Following the march, was a ceremony honoring men and women in the service by their branch. “There’s such a legacy,” Barteldt said. It's a legacy with Larry Kubiak, Jeffery Barteldt and the USS Enterprise that goes way back. Barteldt said, “When I met him that was an instant connection.” Kubiak and Barteldt met at an event last year and what they found out created an everlasting bond. Barteldt said, “Larry was a plank owner, which was one of the crew for the USS Enterprise and I actually served on the USS Enterprise in the exact same department that he did 40 plus years later.” The motto for the Enterprise is “We are legend” and these two certainly are. Barteldt said, “It’s pretty amazing to meet a veteran like that.” “It means so much, very, very much,” Kubiak said.  Giving thanks to the millions who keep this country land of the free and home of the brave means the world to these Veterans. “Our veterans are our most important resource,” Barteldt said.  “We need our veterans as they used to fight, the ones that are actively serving now, to be there for us,” Kubiak expressed. This event marks the 96th anniversary of the end of World War 1.