By Thomas J. McKillen
Managing Editor

During a Veterans Day program at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School Nov. 11, Pastor Robert Hein from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in West Bend used a glass of soda to make a point about heroes.
Hein poured water into the class, and noted that the water diluted the soda.
“We can dilute and water down not only  a beverage, we can also dilute a definition, “ Hein said. “I’m thinking of definition of the word, ‘heroes.’”
Hein then displayed images of athletes, pop musicians and actors.
“They may be famous, they make a lot of money, they may win a lot of awards, but they’re not really heroes — they’re not doing anything for us,” Hein said. “They’re doing that because that’s their profession. They make lots of money and the get lots of accolades for what they do.”
Hein said that a hero puts the needs of others ahead of themselves. He cited a definition that read “one who is involved with great courage, one who has a nobility of purpose, one who will risk or sacrifice their life to save others.”
“A true definition of hero makes us think of our veterans, the people who serve in our armed forces, and that’s what Veterans Day is all about,” Hein said.
Hein explained that veterans have put God, freedom and family above their own needs.
“We don’t ever want to take those freedoms for granted. The fact that we can worship in freedom, that we live in a free country, those things didn’t just happen,” Hein said. “They’re there because our heroes have been willing to put the needs of others ahead of themselves.”
Hein cited a story from the Profiles in Courage Web site, that of Marine Sgt. Jimmy Howard in 1967. Howard’s unit of 18 men were surrounded 250 enemy fighters in North Vietnam overnight. The first assault was repelled. Out of grenades, Howard ordered his unit to throw rocks at the enemy. The enemy forces mistook the rocks for grenades and jumped from their hiding spots, where the were open targets for rifle fire.
Six members of the unit died and the others sustained injuries by the time they were rescued the next day.
“Don’t forget our heroes and don’t forget what the cost of freedom is,” Hein said.
The audience then joined Hein in prayer.
“Forgive us for the times we have taken our country and our freedom to worship and serve you for granted. Forgive us for the times we have forgotten or overlooked the sacrifices of those who have gone before us in serving our country. Preserve the lives of those who are serving us at the present time, and comfort their families and friends who await their return,” the audience and Hein said. “Move us to use the freedoms we have to carry your gospel to the ends of the earth as you give us the greatest peace of all — peace through our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in his name that we pray. Amen.”
Michael Riebe, Adjutant of the Henry Gumm American Legion Post 486 in Jackson, read selected verses from the poem “A Soldier Died Today.” The poem described the passing of a veteran.
“And though sometimes to his neighbors/ His tales became a joke/All his Legion buddies listened/For they knew whereof he spoke,” Riebe said. “But we’ll hear his tales no longer/For old Bill has passed away/And the world’s a little poorer/For a soldier died today.”
Eric Sohlden then performed “Taps,” and Zachary Brandt, Joshua Paustian, Eric Stein and Patrick Thompson followed by singing “God Bless America.”