Veterans Day Assembly

By Brynnley Prijatel 
Veterans Day is approaching soon, landing on November 11. The national holiday is celebrated in honor of military veterans. 

The nation unites to honor this celebration. A local Marine veteran, Bryson Reinhardt explains, “My experience in the Marines transformed me from a boy into a man. I learned a lot of valuable lessons while being in the Marines because we were constantly active and traveling around the world, learning and training in different ways. I received a medal for the war on terrorism, a national defense medal, a good conduct medal, a Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and many more achievements and merits while in the service. After I got out of the Marines my transition into regular day-to-day living was a struggle because I was so used to the training and the constant of being a Marine. While being an active Marine I was paid to have a service dog that helps me through the bad times. The Marines have opened many doors I would not have opened before my experience.” 

We can help support veterans by volunteering at veteran organizations, donating to veteran-focused charities, and listening to veteran's stories. On Saturday, November 11, Pueblo hosted a Veterans Day Parade downtown. 

Karl Streyle, a PCHS softball coach, also shared his experience. Streyle's story was very impactful and motivational. His experience within the military has influenced his performance as a high school softball coach and giving back to the community. “Life for me after the military was a major adjustment. For five years I was told where to be, what to eat, what to wear, and who I was. Learning the outside world was difficult and I had to realize that the military wasn’t my only identity. Finding work that felt impactful and meaningful was the hardest adjustment. After doing two combat tours, I was proud of what I did and was doing. It was hard to find anything equivalent that made me proud like the military. I served in the United States Army and I was an infantry mortarman. I served a total of 21 months in Afghanistan in the Kunar Province. I was based at the Korengal outpost from 2009-2010. We closed down that outpost before we left in 2010. In 2012, I was at COP (combat outpost) Honaker-Miracle. This outpost was only a few miles away from the Korengal Outpost location. Our outposts were desolate and had the bare minimum. In Korengal, we didn’t even have running water and relied on water drops every few weeks to have water to drink. The drops would happen from planes and would be pallets of water with parachutes on them. We would have to rush to the water and many times would get into firefights with the locals and Taliban over the drinking water…”

“...Being in the military affected my life positively and negatively. I currently live with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I struggle with nightmares, sleep deprivation, and just overall enjoyment of life. Although the military and my deployments affected my mental health, I believe it made me appreciate everything I have in my life. I am thankful for my family, another opportunity at life, and just for the little things we have that people take for granted. I struggled with survivor guilt for a long time, but realizing that my friends would want me to live my life to the fullest has helped me. I lost a total of 13 friends over my two deployments and witnessed some crazy things. I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world and believe it has made me stronger.”

Veterans Day will always be a day to remember the sacrifices of our nation's heroes. Today and every day, we honor their service. By supporting Veterans Day, we can show our appreciation to those who served.