He may have retired after over 30 years in the military, but one veteran in our area has remained on a different kind of active duty.
Retired Army 1st Sgt. Jerome Bentz has been on a mission that is currently on its 11th year.
As veterans took their post at Friday's ceremony, those in attendance at Minnesota Valley Lutheran (MVL) High School were handed Friday's message.--"the price of courage."
"The price of courage is for freedom, that's why we do it," said Bentz.
Veteran Allen Affolter says the price of courage also involves significant sacrifice.
"It's the postponement of personal and professional life for the time that you're in the service," Affolter said.
Friday's ceremony was about honoring those who served and never forgetting the prices paid for freedom.
"It's something that you never forget," said Paul Wojahn, a World War II veteran.
Never forgetting is what motivated Sgt. Bentz to organize the annual ceremony, which was held before MVL students. For Bentz, the mission started after 9/11 and has grown significantly.
"It gives us an opportunity to convey to the next generation of what's before them, and what has gone after them," Bentz said.
When the ceremony first began back in 2001, approximately 50 vets were in the crowd. On Friday, about 200 were in attendance.
