Veterans Day salute given to those who served

Area military veterans and their supporters gathered on the flag bedecked Town Square for a Veterans Day ceremony followed by a lunch Friday.

Veterans, some in fading uniforms, others in windbreakers with American flag patches, stood in relative silence as downtown traffic roared around them.

There was then a three-volley 21-shot salute, and then a lone veteran played taps on a bugle.

Rev. John Chapman of Havre's First Baptist Church, himself a U.S. Navy, veteran, gave an opening prayer, paying tribute to those who have served in the military.

"We thank you for the patron examples shown to all of us, and we ask that your blessings be upon those who served and those who are serving in your son's name," Chapman said.

Taya Brandon 16, then presented Chapman and retired Petty Officer Second Class William Bilger of the Veterans of Foreign Wars 497 with a rare 48-star flag.

"I give you this 48-star flag in gratitude to all the veterans who have fought for our freedom. I also want to thank all the active soldiers who continue to keep us safe and our country free, thank you," Brandon said.

Brandon's mother, Tara Brandon, said her daughter presented veterans at the ceremony with the same flag in what has become an annual ritual.

She said that the teenager usually presents the flag but this year was her first year speaking before the crowd.

She said that a friend of the family had given her daughter the 48-star flag when she was 7 years old. She said that the friend gave her the flag because she was "the most patriotic little person he had ever met."

A few people briefly stood and looked at the name plates on the veteran's memorial on the edge of Town Square, some praying, some glancing and others with tears in their eyes.

The crowd then dispersed and made their way over to the Elks Lodge for a lunch of chili and cornbread.

Bob Nieuwenhuyse of the Havre Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge 1201 spoke to the crowd.

"We recognize a humble tribute to those who, in their dedicated service to America, gave as Abraham Lincoln so eloquently put it, the last full measure of their devotion for their country,'" Nieuwenhuyse said.

State Rep.-elect Jacob Bachmeier spoke to the crowd in his first address since he defeated incumbent Rep. Stephanie Hess, R-Havre, in Tuesday's election for the House District 28 seat in the Montana House of Representatives.

Bachmeier, who himself has never served in the military, said that he was grateful for the sacrifices made by veterans, but said he was frustrated at how unresponsive the government can sometimes be to their needs.

He spoke of how during the campaign he met one Vietnam War veteran who had cancer, diabetes and eye problems but was unable to get care from the Department of Veterans Affairs because his symptoms were not severe enough.

He said that he met a therapist in Havre who was allowing a previously homeless Iraq War veteran with PTSD to stay with him.

"I kindly told the therapist that it was a great thing that he was doing but bit my tongue in anger that we have homeless veterans here in our very own community," he said.

There are two nursing homes for veterans in Montana with a third one being proposed. Bachmeier said he thinks that third should be on the Hi-Line.

He also said that mental health services and opportunities need to be improved for veterans with PTSD.

"Warriors need advocates and that is what every single citizen in this country should be," Bachmeier said.