Spectators filled the seats of the Kent Concert Hall at Utah State University as choir members from Thomas Edison Charter School South waved their miniature American flags and sang “Thank You Military” before the free Veterans Day concert started, which took place yesterday from 7 to 8 p.m.
The event, entitled “A Veteran’s Day Memorial,” was a way for the American Festival Chorus and USU Symphony Orchestra to show appreciation for the men and women who served in the armed forces.
Lt. Col. Craig Jessop, a retired United States Air Force veteran, conducted the music. The songs included “God of Our Fathers, Whose Almighty Hand,” “America the Beautiful,” “Who Are the Brave?” “The Last Full Measure of Devotion,” “Highland Cathedral,” “Proud to Serve” and “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”
Hoyt Kelley, a United States Army veteran who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, gave a speech near the middle of the event.
Kelley said he was involved in liberating French cities during World War II, and people of France are still appreciative of what America did.
“No nation in this world has given so much and asked for so little,” Kelley said near the end of his speech.
Following Kelley’s remarks, members of the audience, who sat in nearly every seat of the Kent, stood up and applauded.
Kelly Cronquist, who was a helicopter mechanic for the Army during the Vietnam War, said he enjoyed the concert.
“You can’t help but feel emotional,” Cronquist said, talking about the music’s effect on him.
“Tonight’s performance was excellent,” Jessop said. “It all came together very well, and the speaker was inspiring.”
Jessop said he feels doing this concert is an important way to honor the veterans.
“There are thousands, tens of thousands of Americans buried in Europe who’ve lost their lives in World War II, but they’re largely forgotten by the majority of our country,” Jessop said. “We must never forget what those men and women did for our nation and for the nations of the world.”
Jessop said the people who attended the concert were there to show appreciation for the veterans.
“The Kent is never this filled,” Jessop said. “These people want to honor our veterans. They want to celebrate their lives and their sacrifices.”
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