Veterans Day honors those who fight to keep our country safe. Aspiring service members in Lafayette’s JROTC recognize the importance of Veterans Day, as the Lancer color guard performed at several elementary schools on Tuesday. 

Pond Elementary held a Veterans Day event in which the students brought their veteran family members. I joined four color guard members on their visit to Pond, three of them being former students at the school. 

The color guard team first took to the stage with the presentation of the colors, an introduction routine in which members march in synchronized steps to center-stage where they post the flags in stands. The color guard then held a position of attention for the Star Spangled Banner, the elementary students placing their hands over their hearts as they sang. 

After presenting the colors, the color guard performed the flag folding ceremony.

Junior Allie Meyers and freshman Luna Tucker stood facing each other as they stretched out the American flag. Tucker then carefully folded each section in the traditional order. The flag folding ceremony is a symbol of appreciation for service members, with each of the 13 folds holding a specific meaning. Once the flag was formed into a triangular “pillow,” Tucker and Meyers marched off stage, signaling the end of their performance. 

I caught up with two members of the color guard after the event to see how they felt about the experience. 

Despite it being her first color guard performance, Tucker said she could tell the younger students really enjoyed it. 

“To be honest it was a little nerve wracking,” Tucker said. “But there wasn’t a ton of pressure because they were little kids and they didn’t know if you messed up.”

Tucker plans to be the first in her family to serve in the military. She hopes her performance inspired the young audience.

“I hope they see ROTC as something they could do in the future and something that they could look up to, either as a future career or just something they want to do in high school,” she said.

Senior Sam Niblett enjoyed returning to his elementary school. 

“The younger students thought it was pretty cool seeing all the different movements we can do,” he said. 

I asked Niblett how he felt about his performance. 

“It felt pretty good because I got to honor those who served before me and who fought for our country, and maybe inspired younger kids to join ROTC,” Niblett said. 

Veterans Day is important to Niblett, as both his godfather and grandfather served in the army. 

“I really enjoy going out and respecting all the other veterans by performing these color guards,” he said.

Veterans Day is celebrated every November 11, but our gratitude for veterans and their sacrifices remains year-round.