REXBURG—It’s a day to celebrate our living and fallen heroes. The Veterans Day Ceremony at Madison High School drew a crowd as it honored the service men and women in our community.
“We need to celebrate our veterans, they deserve it and we want to honor them,” Janalyn Holt says.
That was Janalyn Holt, CEO and President of the Rexburg Area Chamber of Commerce. She says the Chamber has been hosting this event for some 20 years. In the past the event was hosted at the Veteran’s Memorial at Smith Park. Holt says since changing the venue they’ve been able to add more to the program.
"We’ve been able to add all of the band and the orchestra, the arts here at Madison High School, they add so much to the ceremony in general,” Holt says.
Army Sergeant First Class Jason Drollinger started his service in the Marine Corps and was active duty during the Iraq War. He’s currently serving in the National Guard in Idaho. He says he’s learned a lot during his service.
“It’s kind of cool once you become part of the class, or this kind of society, it doesn’t matter what war you served in you can always talk to other veterans about war because we’ve all had the same kind of experience, and that’s usually the only people that veterans will open up to,” Drollinger says.
Drollinger has come to the ceremony for the last few years and appreciates the honor veterans are given in the Rexburg community.
“It’s really cool because they do a really great job on their music and really appreciating veterans because we know here in the local community they actually do appreciate the veterans a lot so it’s kind of cool to see that because you go to other places they don’t have as much as the American Spirit, as they do here,” Drollinger says.
Holt says she is grateful to everyone who’s sacrificed for our Freedoms and we should all have more awareness for the those who’ve given everything for our country.
“Sometimes in our busy life it’s hard to just stop and think what others have done for us and our freedoms, I really think it’s so nice that we can have Veteran’s Day right after usually elections,” Holt says. “Those that we elect into positions… affect these men and women that go to war and service. I think it’s awesome anytime that we can celebrate veterans let’s do it.”