One of the best ways people can honor this country’s veterans is by taking an active part in maintaining our freedoms — through volunteering in the community and taking care of our veterans, Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Dahlen said Tuesday during a Veterans Day program at the Freeborn County Courthouse.

Dahlen, who is part of Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry, 34th Division, Minnesota National Guard, addressed a full house of veterans, family members and other community members during part of the traditional county program. He started out his remarks by thanking everyone who welcomed home the troops from Kosovo this past July.

Not all veterans have received this hero’s welcome in the past, he said.

Drawing on his own experiences and historical references, Dahlen gave a few simple examples of how this country has benefited from veterans.

First off, he said, without veterans at the time of this country’s founding, there would not even be a United States.

Without veterans, Americans might be living in a country where freedom of choice does not exist, he said.

As long as he’s lived, he’s been free — free to work, to speak his mind and to worship how he chooses, he said. But veterans have been in places where people cannot do these things.

“May the rest of us never take this for granted,” Dahlen said.

While a society without war may be appealing, he noted, it is because of wars that this country has been able to free slaves, stop genocide and fight terrorists.

And it’s important on Veterans Day for all Americans to reflect on veterans’ service, he said.

Veterans Day, which is usually observed on Nov. 11, originally started out as Armistice Day, the symbolic end of World War I. But in 1954, the United States government set aside the day for all veterans.

Dahlen said veterans are people who at some point in their lives wrote a blank check payable to the United States for the service. Though not all vets have seen war, they all share that common bond.

People can show appreciation through their deeds for veterans who have sacrificed for their country.

People can also teach loyalty, duty, respect, service, honor, integrity and personal courage to their children.

“Veterans Day is not just a day for veterans,” he said. “It’s for all Americans.”

During the special Veterans Day program, the Careyaires singing group, under the direction of Janae Clausen and Renae Herr on the piano, performed three musical selections, including “This Land is Your Land,” a military medley and “God Bless America.”

During “God Bless America,” everyone in the audience joined hands and sang along with the choir.

“I’m so thankful for America — that we could serve our country,” said Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 447 Commander Jim Doty, who served in World War II. “Veterans Day means a lot because of all the buddies I had that were with me.”

The morning ceremony was one of three Veterans Day ceremonies taking place in Albert Lea Tuesday.

Prior to that one, there was a traditional patriotic program at Southwest Middle School, which was presented under the direction of Freemond Madson Post 447 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Special music was furnished by the Southwest seventh- and eighth-grade band and also by the school’s choir.

Doty was the speaker at the program.

Following the program at the courthouse, the third part of the Veterans Day observance shifted to the American Legion clubrooms, which featured additional comments by Dahlen and music by the Careyaires. A luncheon was served by the Post 447 VFW Auxiliary.