Local schools honor veterans

Col. Eric Ahlness, Minnesota National Guard director of government relations, speaks at Cottage Grove Elementary School as the school honors war veterans. In the foreground is a table set for those who have died in wars and also for army, navy, air force, marines and those who served with the coast guard and merchant marines who are listed missing in action who have loved ones waiting for them to return home. Students invited relatives who have military service to attend the ceremony. They sat on one side of the gym with the rest of the students sitting on the other side. After speaking at the school Ahlness was keynote speaker at a ceremony for area veterans, students and staff members at Park High School.