 Brainerd High School has a long-standing tradition of celebrating veterans every year in a unique school-wide program. We have veterans work year-round with school administrators to plan the ceremonies. Reporter Rachel Johnson has the story. The gym at Brainerd High School was filled with waving American flags on Friday during their annual Veterans Day celebration. We've done it for many many years and it is one of the most special programs that we host all year. Students, veterans, members of the community and new recruits were filled with pride and respect as the celebration was underway. It means a lot. It respects the people that have served longer than me and it shows that they actually like they've put in a lot of effort. It's important because of the amount of sacrifice they have gone through, the amount of things they've had to see and do. It means a lot. It's not only for me. It's mostly for my fellow battle buddies and the ones who have served. I haven't had the chance yet to be able to go out and serve my country but I'm very excited too. The Veterans Day celebration at Brainerd High School has been going on for years and each year gets bigger and bigger. Retired Brigadier General Art Ludwig, a 1949 graduate of Washington High School and his daughter, retired Colonel Laura Ludwig, delivered the keynote address. Well I spent 37 years in the military, started as a private in 1947, got a direct commission after the Korean War. It's something that I'm extremely proud of. If asked if I would do it again it's absolutely. It was truly an honor to be part of the veteran community. For the high school staff it is very important to put on a Veterans Day celebration every year. Many of our students have military families, grandparents who served in the military and I think the school is such a great place to educate them and also to honor our veterans in our community as a community event. There's 22 million veterans today and the fact that they have a ceremony like this in which people remember that you served is great. Veterans Day is a day that students and teachers alike at Brainerd High School look forward to every year. Think of veteran, please shake their hand, give them a hug. They'll be very grateful. Reporting from Brainerd, Rachel Johnson, Lakeland News. Veterans Day celebrations took place around the Brainerd School District at Harrison Garfield, Lowell Riverside and also Baxter Elementary in addition to the high school. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.