Veterans Day to be held Monday
The community of Osmond will join with the nation on Monday, Nov. 11, to pay tribute to those who gave time to defending the country and helped to maintain its freedom.
The Veterans Day program in Osmond will take place at 10:15 a.m. at Osmond Community School gym. The address will be given by Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Kenneth Yount.
Arrangements for the program have been coordinated by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 7838 in cooperation with Osmond Community School. Assisting are members of American Legion Post 326 and auxiliaries of the two service organizations. VFW Commander Dale Bloomquist will introduce the speaker.
Students from all Osmond schools will be in attendance and the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.
Yount Will be Speaker
Delivering the Veterans Day address will be Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Kenneth Yount. Ken Yount was born and raised in Ravenna. He joined the U.S. Army and reported for Boot Camp 13 days after turning 18. He served 20 years in the regular Army and seven years in the National Guard for a combined service of 27 years. He worked in many different positions from squad member to retiring out of the Department of Military Engineering Sergeant Major position.
Ken has been stationed at six different duty stations and served in seven foreign countries. His awards are Meritorious Service Medal (3), Army Commendation Medal (2), Army Achievement Medal (4), Meritorious Unit Citation (3), Army Good Conduct Medal (6), National Defense Service Medal (2), Korea Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Silver Campaign Star (5), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon
(3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and The Bronze Order of the de Fleury Medal.
Ken Yount and his wife Wendy and their youngest daughter Raelynn moved back to Ravenna in July of 2012. Kenneth and Wendy have six children and three of them followed in their dad’s footsteps. Sons Zachary and Christopher served in the Army and daughter Emma served in the Air Force.
Kenneth is currently the chairman of Love in Action Food Pantry, United Methodist Church trustee, American Legion life member, life member of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Wounded Warrior Project alumni, Gold Legacy life member and past post commander of Ravenna VFW Post 5820 and present quartermaster. Ken is also the VFW Department of Nebraska Volunteer Veterans chairman, National Aide-de-Camp, a past All-American District Commander and a life member of the VFW National Home.
Monday’s Program
At Monday’s program, service groups will enter the gym to the processional played by the Osmond Junior and Senior High School band, directed by Christalin Ginn. Colors will be presented by the VFW and Legion posts, their auxiliaries and the Sons of the American Legion. After the senior high chorus sings the “National Anthem,” Osmond elementary students will lead those present in repeating the Pledge of Allegiance, which will be followed by the invocation by Rev. Glen Emery.
The winner of this year’s Voice of Democracy contest will deliver their presentation, followed by the senior high chorus singing “Song Of The Unsung Hero,” after which Sergeant First Class (Ret.) Kenneth Yount will speak.
A musical selection by the band will be followed by benediction by Pastor Emery and the recessional and retiring of The Colors by the service groups.
Meal to Honor Veterans
The school has extended an invitation to all past service personnel to join students for lunch following the program. This is the 16th year that school officials and students have hosted a meal to show their appreciation to the veterans.
