By Marshall Griffin, St. Louis Public Radio
Jefferson City, Mo. – America's military veterans were honored today at a ceremony inside the Missouri State Capitol.
A children's choir sang patriotic songs and an honor guard fired volleys just outside the Capitol's doors as the 120-plus audience, military veterans included, paid tribute to those who've served in the armed forces.
Garrett Elliot spent 22 years in the U.S. Navy. While he disagrees with America's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, he says he backs the troops deployed there.
"I think our soldiers and sailors are doing a good job at what they're doing...it's changed a lot since I was in, but I think they're out there in harm's way and they shouldn't be," Elliot said.
Steve Rasmussen, a retired Colonel living in Jefferson City, told the audience that those currently serving in the armed forces, as the veterans before them, want their sacrifices to bring an end to war.
"But we're all realistic enough to know that that probably will not be the case, and we may be called upon again to serve," Rasmussen said.
Marlo Van Sickle is a U.S. Army veteran who served in Vietnam.
"(Of) course, the old saying is that the Vietnam vets (were not) taken care of very well, and when they (came) back, (were not) well-received, and I don't want that to ever happen to any other soldier...and if I have anything to do with it, (it) won't," Sickle said.
Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, which was created to mark the end of World War One.