Club Secretary Venice Pineda reflected on the importance of the event, sharing, “Earlier this week, our school had the honor of welcoming veterans to campus for our annual Veteran’s Appreciation Day. This gave us a very meaningful opportunity to thank them for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice for our country.” Throughout the event, veterans met with students in small groups, sharing stories from their time in service and offering firsthand perspectives on moments in American history that many students have only encountered in textbooks.
Social Studies Honor Society advisor Mrs. Brummer emphasized the significance of these conversations. “We are just so honored to host our veterans at our annual event, and it’s so incredibly meaningful for everyone involved. Our veterans have the opportunity to pass on to a new generation their experiences in serving our country, and our student members have the privilege of hearing history come alive through their stories. The club advisors as well as students get to personally and publicly celebrate our veterans for all they’ve done for us and our country.”
For many students, the most memorable part of the day was simply sitting and listening. Club President Madelyn Porter shared, “I really loved talking to all our veterans. They were all super kind and I loved hearing all their stories.” Treasurer Lily Arnold echoed that sentiment, explaining, “It was a really beautiful experience. It meant a lot to me being able to hear the veterans’ stories. I appreciated how we were allowed to hear in-depth stories from our veterans. It’s still shocking to me that they were our ages when they served our country and experienced these things.”
That realization resonated with many students. As Liberty junior Dylan Holzworth shared, “It’s like a book. They have the history going all the way back, and it’s just amazing.” In many ways, the veterans present were living eyewitnesses to American history, sharing memories that ranged from the daily routines of service to the defining moments of major conflicts.
Among those attending was 102-year-old U.S. Army World War II veteran Bill Glaspie, the oldest veteran present. A member of the U.S. Third Army under Lt. Gen. George S. Patton, Glaspie survived both the Battle of France and the Battle of the Bulge, Germany’s final major offensive of the war. His daughter, Brenda Faith, shared that for much of his life her father spoke very little about the war. “We didn’t hear these stories growing up,” she recalled. “It was only in the last few years that we began to hear a lot of these stories.” Recently, Glaspie returned to Bastogne, Belgium where he fought during the Battle of the Bulge to commemorate the historic event, celebrating his 102nd birthday there in December.
The event also featured keynote speakers Tony Lee, a U.S. Navy and Air Force Reserve veteran, and Paul Loeffler, host of the Hometown Heroes radio program. Both speakers inspired students with reflections on service, sacrifice, and the responsibility of future generations. Lee reminded students of the significance of military service, sharing, “Being one of the people who raised their right hand and took the oath to defend our nation against all enemies is by far the greatest honor I have ever had. And I hope some of you will share that honor with me. Because the future is yours. And this great country is yours.”
Veterans Appreciation Day continues to be one of Liberty’s most meaningful traditions bringing generations together to ensure that the stories, sacrifices, and legacy of those who served are never forgotten.