With Veteran’s Day this Sunday, the city of Ames is hosting its annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony, honoring those who have fought for the United States. The ceremony is put on by the Ames Patriotic Council.

The ceremony will kick off with a welcome from the president of the Ames Patriotic Council, Guy Cornwell. An opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance follow this, and then, the colors will be presented by the Guard of American Legion Post No. 37.

Mayor Anne Campbell will then offer the city’s welcome to those in attendance, and Jathan Chicoine will also be speaking during the ceremony. He is a former Navy Seal and is the Veteran’s Service Coordinator at Iowa State.  

Chicoine joined the Navy after graduating high school and served from 1995 through 2001. When he returned, he attended college at the University of South Dakota. He is recognized for having created the first Veteran’s Resource Center in South Dakota.

Following Chicoine’s speech, those attending the ceremony will hear music from the Heartland Senior Services Band as well as Jim DeHoet singing.  There will also be a patriotic reading from Harriet Sheldahl.

The ceremony will conclude with a final reading and the recognition of all veterans in attendance.

Recognizing veterans is something Herman Quirmbach, associate professor of economics at Iowa State, takes very seriously in his position as a Kiwanis Club representative in the Ames Patriotic Council.

In 2001, Quirmbach brought to light the lack of veteran recognition the rest of the year, and within days, the Veteran’s Memorial in Ames came to life.

With the help of co-chairman Brian Anderson, a Marine veteran, Quirmbach formed a team of dozens of volunteers to build the Veteran Memorial in Ames. Hundreds of people donated money to make the project possible.

Quirmbach also helps plan the Veteran’s Day Ceremony in Ames and encourages ISU students and faculty to attend the program to show respect for those who have served our country.

“The ceremony usually sees a turnout of anywhere between 100 and 200 people,” said Charlie Clatt, former president of the Ames Patriotic Council.

Flyers around the city help advertise the ceremony as well as a representative from the Ames Patriotic Council on the “Mel in the Morning” radio show.

Although the ceremony normally takes place at 11 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, it will take place later in the afternoon this year because the 11th falls on a Sunday.

This year’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony by the city of Ames will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, in the Ames City Hall Auditorium.