I CAME BECAUSE I CARE. I came because of my father, a Korean War veteran. And I came because it was the right thing to do—to set aside time on Veterans Day to honor the men and women who have served this country.
A crowd of several hundred gathered on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month outside the Rice County courthouse in Faribault to listen to several speakers and to witness all the traditions of this sacred day.
Raising of the flags by the Color Guard. Speeches. Firing of guns by the Honor Guard. Playing of taps. Prayers.
While I wove around the edge of the crowd with my camera, I simultaneously listened. And the key message I took away is this: Listen. Listen to our veterans. Listen to their stories.
Don’t just thank them. But listen. Support. Honor them.
And when the topic turned to suicide and to the suicide prevention effort, Operation: 23 to 0, that word popped up again. Listen.
In the center circle of the Rice County Veterans Memorial, boots sat, each representing a military veteran who took his/her life via suicide. Christopher from Faribault. David from Dawson. And so many others, gone too young. A red rose for each. A photo and a short bio offering a glimpse of their lives.
And then all around the county memorial, lining the sidewalks, paver upon paver upon paver placed in honor of a service member. So many names. So many loved ones. So many who carried the stories of military service.
Listen. I heard the steady drone of traffic pass by the courthouse, people going about their day as usual while veterans spoke. While we prayed and honored and thanked in our own quiet ways. While taps played and rifles boomed.
I expect in the silent moments in between, minds wandered to battlefields, to untold stories, to buddies and loved ones long gone. I found myself thinking of my dad serving on the frontlines during the Korean War. I expect others were doing the same, remembering, wishing perhaps that they had asked more questions. Listened.
Next to the courthouse, a group of students from Faribault Lutheran School gathered on the lawn, visually reinforcing one speaker’s directive that we need to tell the next generation of the sacrifices made.
On this day of honor it was good to pause. To step away from everyday life. To listen to the kids singing “God Bless America” as Steve Bonde sounded the song on his trumpet.
It was good to reflect. And when almost everyone dispersed, a few of us remained. Organizers cleaning up. Clusters of people chatting.
I followed the sidewalk to pavers marked by five small American flags. I knelt on the cement for a photo, noticing autumn leaves scattered upon the names and dates, the notations about military service. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven…a time of war, and a time for peace.
© Copyright 2026 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
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