“I remember going to Vietnam, getting on the plane to go over there, and being very worried. I also remember the flight home after serving a year, and that is a different story,” shared veteran John Hobert, a former Cannon Falls Agricultural teacher.
This is just a piece of the lives that are honored on November 11, also known as Veterans Day.
On Tuesday, November 11th, 2025, the Cannon Falls Middle School and High School gathered in the high school gym to honor those who served or are serving our country. While students were coming into the gym, the High School band directed by Mike Legvold played New South Wales and America the Beautiful. Once the students were seated, the VFW Color Guard walked in and got seated. The Color Guard members consisted of Bob Durdahl, Bob Hjermstad, Roger Flaten, Lowell Anderson, and Glenn Lundell. They were introduced by Van Webb, a Boy Scout, who also led the Pledge of Allegiance. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the High School band played the National Anthem. Then the High School Choir, directed by Anna Broring, sang Patriotic Medley. This medley included My Country, ‘Tis Of Thee and America the Beautiful. Senior Hilari Palodichuk welcomed and introduced guest speaker Heather Sharp.
Guest speaker Heather Sharp spoke about her experience as a pilot. She started by saying that one of her teachers told her she should become a pilot. After a while of hard work and dedication towards becoming a pilot, she ran into a scouting officer. The scouting officer told her that he could get her access to fly whatever plane she wanted, which was just the start of her time in the Air Force. Her speech was followed by a presentation created by veteran John Hobert. The presentation consisted of people in the Cannon Falls area who served and are currently serving our country. Once the presentation was over, the band played Marches Of The Armed Forces, during which the veterans stood up and received applause. A special guest also made an appearance. Pam Altendorf, a State Representative for Cannon Falls and the surrounding area, came for the assembly.
From a veteran’s perspective on how the community of Cannon Falls supports veterans, John Hobert shared, “Very well. Cannon Falls is a community that honors their veterans.”
The town holds a memorial for its veterans downtown, and a statue of Colonel William Colvill is placed at the Cannon Falls Cemetery. Dylan Iverson served in the Navy from 2002 to 2007. He went on two Western Pacific deployments. Though she was not alive at the time, his daughter, freshman Elliot Iverson, shared, “It made me feel really proud that my father served our country.”
Despite a rather small event, the annual veteran’s day ceremony holds huge meaning for a small town like Cannon Falls.
