Patriotism is alive and well in North Idaho. Evidenced by numerous Veterans Day assemblies and ceremonies, our community fully supports America and what she stands for, and especially for those who serve her unselfishly. The freedoms we enjoy are not free, as many Americans expect. Those who have answered the call of duty, whether conscripted or not, know the value of freedom and the sacrifices that have to be made to sustain our way of life.

There is a layer of commitment made by service members taken in the oath of enlistment that adds to citizenship essentials of moral and ethical conduct. That layer is "to defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic." That commitment carries on for the lifetime of anyone who has served. In veterans organizations, the veterans are "still serving," relating the commitment of Duty, Honor, Country.

This Veterans Day had special significance. The date occurs only once a century, and at the Third Street Veterans Park at 11 o'clock, on the 11th day, of the 11th month, of the 11th year, World War II Navy vet Jim Shepard rang the veterans' bell 11 times in commemoration of the end of World War I, "the war to end all wars."

Armistice Day, also known as Remembrance Day, commemorates the armistice between the Allies and Germany, and was signed at 10:58 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 at Compiegne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, effective at 11 that morning. The war officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed in June 1919 at the Palace of Versailles in France.

In November that year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Nov. 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, and an act of Congress made it an official holiday in May 1938. The act was amended in 1954 to strike out the word "Armistice" and insert the word "Veterans." On the First of June, approval of this legislation made Nov. 11 a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

Patriotic songs proliferated at many Veterans Day assemblies in North Idaho. Kindergartners at Hayden's Kinder Center sang and presented veterans with handmade flowers. Sorensen and Hayden Meadows elementary schools showed PowerPoint presentations of veterans who were family members of students at the school. Atlas and Ramsey choirs sang service songs representing each military branch, with veterans following custom and proudly stood to acknowledge their song. Woodland Middle School band/orchestra performed our national anthem with musical expertise. The Coeur d'Alene High School choir was spectacular in its rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" during a flag raising ceremony by American Legion Post 14 and VFW Post 889. Only to be outdone by themselves during the assembly in the gym, the choir and band presented an outstanding selection of patriotic music.

Kudos to all the schools, students, staff and music teachers that made this possible. All of us veterans were well recognized and really appreciate the acknowledgment. Of note, the Winton chorus sang some patriotic songs during the Veterans Day ceremony at the Third Street Veterans Park. It was a chilly day off school for the kids, but they were there, some clad in red, and some in blue sequined vests over white shirts, singing proudly to us. We listened and felt the pride in being an American.

Jack Evensizer is a resident of Dalton Gardens.