Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette The Houghton High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) cadets conducted the Rifle Cordon, Presentation of the Colors, along with a demonstration by the Drill Team during the 2022 Veterans Day Program.

HOUGHTON — The Superior Battalion, Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps will conduct its annual Veterans Day Program this Friday, November 10, at 11 a.m. in the Houghton High School gymnasium. Superior Battalion JROTC Instructor, U.S. Army Col. Dylan Carlson (Ret) of the 82nd Airborne Division, said the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

“There will be VIP seating for all vets and their families,” Carlson said. “We will open our doors and welcome them in, and we’d like to recognize them during the ceremony, for their service.”

The program is cadet-led, said Carlson. They did the event planning and coordinating for the program. The two driving-forces behind this year’s events are Cadet Lt. Colonel Sarah Jaehnig and Cadet Major Ty Crisman.

“There is a lot that goes planning that goes into the program,” said Jaehnig. “There are a lot of different factors that you have to take into account.”

Those include people and organizations that need to be contacted, things that need to be reserved, emails that have to be sent out. Scheduling can be a challenge, selecting dates and times that work so everyone can come and enjoy the program, Jaehnig said.

“It’s a good thing to get ahead on it, to start early,” she said. “It is a really great assembly that we do, we’re glad that we have it open to so many people who can come and enjoy it.”

Crisman said planning for the program began in September, a couple of weeks into the school year. There are some changes to this year’s program, he said to keep it fresh and new.

Carlson said this year, the cadets wrote essays on a veteran family member or friend and what Veterans Day means to them.

“We combed through all of the essays and chose the ones we thought were the most inspirational, or had a good story to tell,” said Carlson, “and those students will read there essays.”

Carlson said the Alfred Erickson American Legion Post 186 will participate in the program, as will the VFW posts from Chassell and Hubbell. He said many veterans will attend individually, as well.