Today is Veterans Day – a day to reflect upon and appreciate the sacrifices made by all the men and women who have served in our military.
We spoke with Crookston Police Department (CPD) Officer Don Rasicot and former CPD Detective Gerry Moreno, who both also happen to be Marine Corps veterans, after the Veterans Program at Highland School on Tuesday. Rasicot explained that he feels Veterans Day programs are an important tradition, because, “it’s an honor to have our kids understand what a veteran is, and to appreciate the freedoms that they enjoy every day because of veterans. I think it’s important to point that out at an early age. It also encourages children as they grow up to consider one day becoming a veteran and serve their country in one capacity or another.”
Moreno seconded those thoughts, saying, “To me, it’s such an honor to come here – especially with the kids, because they are so impressionable. You need to catch the kids at an early age, educate them, teach them as much as you can, so they know the meaning of the United States flag and the National Anthem. They represent what people have given – the ultimate sacrifice.”
Their respect for fellow veterans was evident in their voices, as Rasicot and Moreno expressed their pride in having served. “The places we have been are not places you would have gone with your family, but they were places we were sent, and some of us went without question, because it was just our duty. You tried to do the best you could to survive and make it back home again,” said Moreno. “But because we have gone to those places, you can take your family anywhere, because we’re free, and because we have gone to places that nobody else wants to go to, and we’ve made sacrifices there so that others can live free,” Rasicot added. “That really sums up what a veteran is. It’s so heartwarming, and it touches my heart when I see not only the citizens or the community, but especially our young people recognize that. None of us are looking for recognition, but we’re very proud of what we’ve done. I don’t know any veteran who isn’t proud of the time that he served.”
To all our veterans and active servicemen and women out there, today, tomorrow and every day, thank you from all of us here at KROX.
