Ceremonies celebrate area veterans

In honor of Veterans Day (Nov. 11), area schools held ceremonies over the course of three days — Monday, Nov. 10; Tuesday, Nov. 11; and Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025 — to honor and celebrate area veterans and the sacrifice they made in serving their country. Merrill High School (MHS), Prairie River School, Washington School, Kate Goodrich, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School, Trinity Lutheran School, and St. John Lutheran School all held programs.
An entourage of area veterans made the rounds over the course of the three days, with many members of the public also joining the honors at each location, as well as the entire student body of the schools where ceremonies were held. In addition to students performing patriotic songs and reading essays entered into the Patriot Pen contest expressing what patriotism means to them and how they can show their patriotism, veterans presented the flags, the National Anthem was sung, and a veteran played Taps to round out the ceremony at St. John Lutheran School on Monday (see photos). Lunch was also served to the veterans and friends after the St. John program.
Recently-retired Lieutenant Commander Donna Vorpagel-Gunther was the keynote speaker at the St. John celebration. Vorpagel-Gunther is a 20-year Navy veteran who grew up in Merrill, was named Homecoming Queen, and graduated from MHS as Valedictorian in 2003 before joining the military to serve our country.
Jeremy Gunther, Vorpagel-Gunther’s husband who is also a 20-year Navy veteran, was the keynote speaker for the Veterans Day ceremony at Cenotaph park.