CHASKA, Minnesota — Veterans Day is a time to honor everyone who has served in the U.S. military. At Chaska Middle School West, honoring veterans on this day has become a longstanding tradition.

"We can never say thank you enough," said Troy Smutka, a seventh-grade civics teacher.

After the first organizer of their annual Veterans Day program retired, Smutka took over. The school has been holding the program since 2002.

"She knew how important Veterans Day was to me. All the veterans in my family and I lost a cousin in Iraq. And so I said, 'Okay,' and it's become a labor of love," Smutka said.

Richard Daniels served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was 19 years old.

"I was 20 years old when I got home and I worked in the Pentagon for several years after that. Since then, I

See Full Page