Times Observer photo by Josh Cotton Members of the VFW Color Guard salute the raising of the flag.

Soldiers & Sailors Park in downtown Warren has provided a place to remember the sacrifices of our Armed Forces for at least a century.

That tradition continued on Thursday with a Veterans Day service held at the park.

State Representative Kathy Rapp was the keynote speaker for the event.

“This is a day where we honor those who have served our country,” she said, suggesting those that did not serve have a “civic responsibility to never forget… the valiant sacrifices you have made on our behalf.”

She called on us to not take the lifestyle we have for granted. Speaking directly to combat veterans, she said “you have seen what tyranny can do to a society.

“Our freedoms and way of life are fragile (and) can slip away before we are even aware,” she said.

Rapp highlighted some of those freedoms – speech, religion, to own a firearm, to travel freely.

“Every person … is afforded an opportunity to vote and decide the fate and future of America,” she said, noting that without the resolve of our nation’s veterans “many of our freedoms would no longer exist today.”

“You truly exemplify duty, honor, courage and tenacity, traits often missing in 2021 or viewed as dangerous by some in our society who have been “indoctrinated.”

But she said she has “faith” in the country’s “destiny” because of the veterans she has met.

“Our veterans should never be forgotten,” she said, and their service should be appreciated.

Last month, the county commissioners signed off on a proclamation for Veterans Day.

“(A)s honored and respected citizens, our veterans have learned the values of service, dedication and discipline, and know the worth of life and liberty; America has found in our veterans the leadership, courage and determination needed to overcome all forms of despicable threats to our nation and its people,” the commissioners said.

“(W)e owe our veterans a debt of gratitude which can never be fully repaid; on this day set aside in their honor, we take the opportunity to pay tribute to our military veterans for all they have done — and continue to do — to make the world a better and safer place for new generations of Americans who will continue to reap the benefits of such a proud legacy of selfless service.”