FARGO — On Wednesday, Nov. 11, Touchmark at Harwood Groves held a special Veterans Day ceremony to honor the more than 20 local veterans who reside in the retirement community. The event highlighted the community’s deep respect for those who have served the United States.
Young voices salute the veterans
Students from the Park Christian High School choir performed a patriotic program, filling the hall with music that underscored the day’s solemn purpose. After the choir, a volunteer read aloud the names of each veteran living at Touchmark, ensuring every individual was publicly recognized for his or her service.
Veteran shares gratitude for the celebration
Bob Boone, a retired Air Force pilot who flew missions from Panama to Fairbanks, Alaska, spoke with WDAY News about the importance of the gathering. “It’s very, very, very good. It makes you feel very good. These young people are learning a lot of things, and they seem very nice,” Boone said, expressing appreciation for the community’s effort to involve youth in honoring veterans.
Boone added that he feels blessed to have served his country and is grateful for the opportunity to have been stationed in all 50 states and many Canadian provinces during his career. His remarks reflected a broader sentiment among the residents, many of whom expressed pride in their military histories and gratitude for the recognition.
Community support and family values
The ceremony exemplified the strong family‑and‑faith values that define Fargo’s senior living communities. By inviting local students and encouraging intergenerational interaction, Touchmark reinforced the idea that honoring service is a shared responsibility that bridges age groups.
Organizers noted that the event was made possible through volunteer efforts and donations from local businesses, underscoring the community’s commitment to supporting its veterans. The gathering also provided an opportunity for families of the veterans to join in the celebration, fostering a sense of unity and shared purpose.
Looking ahead
Touchmark plans to make the Veterans Day ceremony an annual tradition, with hopes of expanding participation to include more local schools and civic groups. The retirement community’s leadership emphasized that continued collaboration will help preserve the legacy of those who have defended the nation’s freedoms.
As the ceremony concluded, residents and guests alike left with a renewed sense of gratitude and a reminder that the sacrifices of America’s veterans remain a cornerstone of the community’s identity.
Original reporting: InForum (Fargo section) — read the source article.
