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Service members make numerous sacrifices in defense of their countries. While the debts to service members may never be the kind that can be repaid in full, paying tribute to veterans, on Veterans Day and throughout the year, can be a great way to show them just how much their efforts are appreciated.

Veterans Day begins with Armistice Day

Veterans Day is a byproduct of the end of World War I, when Germany and the Allied Nations signed the Treaty of Versailles, formally ceasing fighting and establishing terms of peace.

Andrew Von Werder

Mother - Helen Ozella (White) Von Werder was a past Royal Matron of Amaranth.

Father - Master Sgt. August H. Von Werder, U.S. Army Veterinary Corps, 1917-1944, World War I and World War II.

Was a Mason and worked at Fort Reno until its closure.

Brother - Lt. Col. Coleman Von Werder, born June 28, 1928, at Fort Reno. U.S. Army Artillery, 1946-1968, assisted Marines at Battle of Chosin in Korean War.

Brother - William Von Werder, private, USAF, 1952, medical discharge.

Dr. Bryan Blankenship, DDS

Son of Craig and Kim Mittelstaedt.

Oklahoma National Guard

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

2002-2008

Two tours of duty in Iraq.

Ronnie Melton

U.S. Navy - Submarine

1968-71

Frank Casey

World War II

Jan. 18, 1943 – Dec. 26, 1945

Army Private First Class

Marksman Rifle

Two Bronze Service Stars

Good Conduct Medal

WWII Victory Ribbon

American Theater Ribbon

AP Theater Ribbon

Douglas L. Brown

MSG (retired), U.S. Army.

August 1986 to August 2008

Attended basic training at Fort Knox, Ky.

Advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Trained as a medic.

Assignments include Fort Stewart, Ga., Camp Hovey, Korea, Fort Ord, California.

Army recruiting at Boston, Mass., Fort Hood (Fort Cavazos), Texas, Bad Aibling Station, Germany, U.S. Army Central Command, Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Ga.

Dan Castrop, 96, served in the Merchant Marines from 1945-46.

He was stationed in California. He then served in the U.S. Army, having re-enlisted for an 18-month tour at the conclusion of the war.

He was stationed then in Japan, operating vehicles to transports different units of service from one location the next.

Castrop had to learn the safest and quickest routes to move the troops and to avoid being ambushed.

Frank Welker Coit 

Private, U.S. Army

Born Jan. 16, 1892
Died Sept. 27, 1918

After his family moved to the El Reno area from Missouri, Frank Welker Coit - who like many during that era bore his mother’s maiden name as his middle name - attended grade school in El Reno.

Evelyn Hall Baumwart

Sister of Eugene Hall.

Army

World War II 1944-1946.