ROCKWELL -- A Thornton Army veteran reminded fellow service members Friday they still have a mission to fulfill.

"We need to let kids know how important the gift of freedom is," Jake Miller said during a Veterans Day program at West Fork Middle School in Rockwell.

Otherwise, Miller said, the fight for freedom was in vain.

He likened that fight for freedom to school pride.

"What if someone came to your school, put you down and burned your flag?" he asked middle schoolers.

Today's war is waged in Washington, D.C. and on social media, Miller said, with words instead of bullets. He urged students to pledge allegiance, stand for the national anthem and know what their government is doing.

As active duty Army from 2002 to 2006, Miller, a combat engineer, served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was part of two tourw in Baghdad and Mosul.

"It was typical stuff during the war," he said. "After it settled down, we helped facilitate elections, remodeled Saddam's palace, built detention centers and police statins and fixed convoy routes."

With relatives on both sides having served in the military, Miller said 9/11 was an influence in his decision to enlist.

"When I joined, soldiers were already deployed," he said. "I was nervous at the time, but we're the biggest and the best."

Miller also served in the Army Reserves from 2008 to 2010.

His daughter, Raelle Wyborny, 13, was part of the U.S. History class that put on the Veterans Day program Friday.

"It's important that our vets receive recognition and are able to share their stories," she said.

TyAnne Schulte, of Ames, formerly Mason City, was one of many vets in attendance at West Fork's program.

Having seen the benefits of the Iowa National Guard, Schulte enlisted at age 17, two days after she graduated high school early.

"I like the ability to maintain a civilian life but be in uniform," said Schulte, 22, who is a truck driver for the Mason City-based 1133rd Transportation Company.

She is a tattoo artist in her civilian career and has taken art and graphic design classes at North Iowa Area Community College. Schulte will celebrate five years with the National Guard in January, and plans to continue her service.

Photographs courtesy of Globe-Gazette
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2016