‘They risk their lives for us’: Service members gather for Veterans Day in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Every year, veterans around Lincoln gather to honor our nation’s service members.

One of the ways they do so is with a ceremony at the Auld Pavilion in Antelope Park.

Diane Bartels, a member of the Veterans Memorial Garden event committee, said it’s nice that so many people step forward to think of our veterans.

“Our country would not be like it is today if not for our veterans who have committed,” she said. “I’d like to have us keep all veterans in our minds and in our hearts throughout the rest of the year.”

Joyce Peck, a gold star mother who’s been active among Lincoln’s veterans, got to participate in the ceremony Saturday.

She read through a brief history of General John J. Pershing, who’s military career included leading UNL’s military department during the late 19th Century.

Pershing would then go on to lead U.S. forces during World War I.

“I was pleased to see as many people here as we had, even on a Nebraska home game day,” Peck said. “I thought it was terribly interesting all the things that General Pershing had done, I didn’t realize he was so involved until I read his biography.”

Peck’s son, Patrick Hamburger, died while serving in Afghanistan in 2011. He was one of 30 Americans killed in a helicopter crash after being hit by the Taliban.

Peck said she couldn’t ask for more from the community in their support for her son.

“We always talk together, and they give me their condolences about the ultimate sacrifice he made,” she said. “They’ve been very good to us.”

Peck said Veterans Day is a great reminder to fly your flags and thank a veteran for their service.

“They risk their lives for us,” she said. “A lot of them probably felt like maybe they had a thankless job. No, they didn’t. They need to know they have the support and love of the community.”