A number of people paused Friday to remember those who served - or still are serving - the United States through its military.
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Freedom Corner and the Capitol
"Veterans Day means our freedom, and that's what we fought for," said James Dewesplore, an Army veteran who served from 1957-85. "Freedom is not free."
During a celebration at the Capitol, veterans and their families listened to retired local radio host Warren Krech speak about the value of every military position.
Krech served as an entertainment specialist in the Army, a position not many people think of when they think of the military.
"Not everybody was a combat veteran, but we honor everyone who served, no matter what the capacity," said Krech.
Representatives of the Jefferson City Veterans Council coordinated the Capitol celebration.
Meanwhile, at East McCarty and High streets, the Lincoln University ROTC Honor Guard, Calvary Lutheran High School quintet and elementary students from across Jefferson City gathered to celebrate Veterans Day.
Jerome Offord, president of the East Side Business Association, led the ceremony by introducing past, present and future servicemen to speak to the crowd.
Jeremy Amick, former Army public affairs officer, highlighted three local black veterans who fought for the country despite evidence of institutional racism within the structure of the Army.
Amick told the stories of local servicemen Tony Jenkins, a Harlem Hellfighter of World War I; David Shipley, a U.S. Navy veteran; and Tyrone Allen, a U.S. Air Force veteran.
"These are all stories to be cherished and remembered," Amick said. "Let us look to the past for guidance, knowing that the men and women of the United States military have provided a template for building solid friendships in an environment that rises above prejudice and exclusion."
U.S. Army Ranger Capt. Jake Vogel and Cadet Dru Simpson, a senior at Lincoln University, also spoke to the crowd, paying their respects to the men and women in uniform.
"I feel proud that I am a part of something bigger and have witnessed the impact my service has on the world," said Carl Smith, Army veteran of 1990.
Lincoln University
Lincoln University President Kevin Rome set the tone for LU's observance when he noted: "Recognizing and celebrating our veterans is important at all times because of their selfless service to our country.
"But this year, Veterans Day comes with a bit more reflection for us here at Lincoln University.
"Without veterans, the institution we know would not exist."
LU is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding by soldiers of the 62nd and 65th Missouri Colored Infantry Units, as they were mustering out of their Civil War service in 1866.
LU's program included the premiere of an excerpt from a play about Lincoln's founding, "Brethren," written by Gregory Carr, a St. Louis native who teaches speech and theater at Harris-Stowe University and also teaches some classes at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Carr portrayed Pvt. First Class Joshua Ragland of the 62nd Colored Infantry who, Carr told the News Tribune, really is a composite of several historical figures.
Ragland was described as a slave in Boonville who ran away from his master and enlisted with the Army at Benton Barracks in North St. Louis - where that city's Fairgrounds Park now sits.
"None of us could read," Carr-as-Ragland told the audience, because a 1947 Missouri law prohibited educating blacks. But the Army determined "in order for us to be good soldiers, (they) told us we had to read."
And Lt. Richard Baxter Foster, a white officer, was their teacher.
After fighting the last battle of the Civil War at Palmetto Ranch in Texas, those soldiers gave and pledged $6,400 and asked Baxter to start a school in Missouri to teach others to read and write.
In September 1866, that school opened in Jefferson City as Lincoln Institute and later became Lincoln University.
After the program, Carr said he's been working on the play "Brethren" for years, and his research introduced him to Lincoln and the Benton Barracks connection.
Growing up, he didn't know about LU.
"It wasn't until years later, when I started doing my research, that I saw the importance of Lincoln and the connection of the 62nd and 65th infantries," he said. "It is a shame that people don't know the history."
Col. Christopher Fry Sr. - a Mexico, Missouri, native and 1987 LU graduate who was commissioned into the U.S. Army from Lincoln's ROTC program - talked about the importance of family and the military.
Sometimes choking with emotion, he talked about the grandfather neither he nor his father ever knew.
Pvt. Charles Fry Jr. was born Aug. 29, 1918, and died Aug. 22, 1943, he said, noting it was a story he'd never discussed publicly but felt compelled to tell it now.
"He never made it to his 25th birthday," Fry said. "He contracted diphtheria and passed away" in North Africa while serving in World War II and was buried in Tunisia along with 2,840 other U.S. soldiers.
Fry reported his father was born a month after his grandfather enlisted in March 1941.
Twenty-two years later in 1963, his father was commissioned as an infantry officer, and other relatives have served, as well.
"We are a proud family," Fry said, "(and) service to the nation is in our blood."
Fry, 51, will end his military career next summer after 30 years.
He said: "Our veterans are important - they served, and they've done well.
"It's not been easy. The families are the ones who sacrificed more in the long run."
Blair Oaks School District
Maj. Mike Roberts had plans to be a professional soccer player.
And he got close but never made it, he told the crowd at the Blair Oaks School District's Veterans Day assembly.
But life often works in ways you don't recognize at the time, he said. There have been aspects in his life that didn't pan out the way he planned, and it's painful. But sometimes, it's the perfect stepping stone.
Roberts was recruited to attend West Point Academy - a prestigious military college - to play soccer. So at 17, he traveled halfway across the country for the prep academy where he was first exposed to military life, and he thrived. The experience gave him the same team atmosphere and discipline soccer did.
Although he never actually attended West Point, Roberts returned to the military after 22 years in radio and broadcasting.
"At 33, I raised my right hand (and joined the Army National Guard)," he said. "That was on a Tuesday. The next Tuesday, I turned 34. That was pretty old to be joining the military. And the next Tuesday was 9/11."
Six years later, Roberts was deployed to Iraq. Two of his soldiers were killed in action, and it still affects him, he said. Though it's not Memorial Day, Roberts said he thinks of them on Veterans Day and the horrible loss their families faced.
He has an impressive nearly 16-year career with the Guard, and though he joined much later in life than most people, it's one of the best decisions he's ever made, he said.
"I joined for these reasons," he said. "Not for the bonuses or the college. I did it because I wanted to be here.
"You're my bosses," he told the crowd. "I work for you. We work for you, and we serve for you, and we serve for your families."
He asked everyone to step back and contemplate freedom and understand what it means. Roberts said he's grown and developed so much during his time in the military. He's seen himself and the country become stronger.
"We have a great country, and it's worth fighting for and worth serving for," he said. "It's worth acknowledging the service."
Brittany Hilderbrand, Bob Watson and Shelby Rowe of the News Tribune staff contributed to this story.