Dear Editor,

Thank you to the senior center and community.
When I enlisted in the U.S. Army over 50 years ago, I never thought about being a veteran, just a soldier like the members of my family beginning in the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, and World War II.
Both my husband and I are veterans. This Veterans Day was extremely special in Clarkston because of two groups, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Independence Senior Center and those that joined them.
The Daughters of the American Revolution held a bell ringing for peace at my father’s grave in honor of the end of the World War I. As a World War I soldier, I believe he would have been especially happy when the Armistice was signed at eleven minutes after 11:00 on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, November 11, 11:11 a.m. Thank you to the DAR for celebrating the Armistice, veterans of World War I, and especially in honor of my dad at Lakeview Cemetery.
Veterans had been invited to pick up lunch at the Independence Township Senior Center versus meeting in person due to COVID-19.
Little did we know as we drove over to the senior center that we’d be greeted by the Clarkston High School band and their music, several American Legion members thanking us for being a veteran, some middle school students who also thanked us, and a very enthusiastic senior center staff, including Independence Township Supervisor Pat Kittle and Derek Smith, director of Parks, Recreation and Seniors. A fantastic meal had been prepared and boxed up for us. We also received an envelope with cards and drawings from Clarkston Community Schools students.
A big thank you to all who were so welcoming and remembering of the veterans of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. We do appreciate it. Some of us enlisted and some of us were drafted but we all worked together in whatever arm of the military we were in to do our job and to be proud of our country and to have our country be proud of us.

Sincerely,
Joette Kunse
Independence Township

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Dear Editor,

We would like to express our humble gratitude for the Veterans Day lunch and celebration sponsored by the Clarkston Senior Center employees and high school students.
We were both honored and surprised by the band playing, students waving American flags and the uniformed men saluting.  And the lunch was fantastic.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Bob and Margaret Bloom
Clarkston