CLARKSVILE, TN – Blanchfield Army Community Hospital Commandant Col. Sam Preston and Command Sergeant Major Gary Petty addressed students, faculty, staff and parents at Clarksville Northeast High School during a school assembly event held in the gym on Thursday to celebrate the Day Veterans. Preston and Petty came to deliver a Veterans Day message, talk about service to others and recognize the many veterans on the high school faculty and staff who serve or have served our nation.

“Why do we celebrate Veterans Day?” Preston asked the gathering. “What is important about this holiday is that we recognize the service of those who have worn the uniform to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Preston went on to state the importance of service and why it is important to recognize the service of our nation’s veterans.

“Thanks to our veterans we can safely cast our vote in a democratic process. We can celebrate our democracy because those veterans were willing to raise their hand and take an oath to defend and uphold that fragile idea of ​​the U.S. Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic,” Preston said.

Petty greeted the assembled students with a challenge.

“There are so many different ways to serve,” Petty began. “As we celebrate Veterans Day and when it comes to selfless service, I want to invite you to look at the many options you have. … I challenge you to look at what true selfless service is and to participate in selfless service within your community. And remember, selfless service is bigger than the uniform,” Petty concluded.

Lt. Col. Keil Scott, a U.S. Army Reserve officer and senior Army instructor with the Northeast High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, presented Preston with an NEHS JROTC plaque of appreciation for thanks to him and Petty for delivering a message on Veterans Day. The North-East high school audience.