KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Veteran's Day was celebrated all across the Heartland Tuesday and we went to a local ceremony honoring past and present members of the armed forces.  The ceremony at the Rieger National Guard Armory in Kirksville was hosted by the Truman State University U.S. Army ROTC and the local VFW.

Cadet Joshua Hoyt was the master of ceremonies and retired Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Cupelli was the guest speaker.

Kirksville High School choir students sang the national anthem and KHS student Mark Schneider read his essay titled "What Veteran's Day means to me."

The holiday, formerly known as Armistice Day, has a lot of history behind it.

“Our country’s history and the veteran's history are very related.  Our veterans have fought for our freedom, they have sacrificed for our nation and the world.  And so I think it's very important to honor our veterans,” said retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ralph Cupelli.

President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name to Veteran's Day in 1954.  The holiday always falls on November 11 to commemorate the end of major hostilities of World War I on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. 

Cupelli served 23 years in the army before retiring in 1992.  He has been to six of the seven continents in the world and says America is the best nation in this world.

“There are thousands and I guess millions of young men and women who are willing to do their duty to serve their country well.  We have talented men and women in the service today as when I served in the service.  They're not afraid to sacrifice because they believe in the cause of the United States, the cause of freedom and justice,” says Cupelli.
    
The ceremony also included recognition of POWs and MIAs and a 21 gun salute.

Local veterans for each major war in history were honored and applauded for their service to our nation.