The day of his U.S. Air Force Academy 25th reunion still stands out in Lt. Col Mike Robards’ mind.
He stood under the scoreboard, nearly in tears, when he heard 40,000 people sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Hearing so many people pay tribute to the country and veterans was touching and is one of his favorite memories as a veteran, he said.
“Those men will stay with me forever,” he said.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryRobards spoke to an audience of a few hundred parents, veterans and students at Franklin Community Middle School on Friday. His message: that veterans helped protect the rights of students in the audience and they should thank a veteran today.
“We are here to honor them and those who passed, who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.
Robards was an active duty airman from 1974 to 1997 before he retired, got a teaching degree and taught math and science at Custer Baker Intermediate School and Franklin Community Middle School. He is a graduate of Center Grove High School.
The 21 million living veterans all deserve respect on Veterans Day and every day, he said.
In the last few years, respect for veterans has increased, he said.
“People have come to realize how important military service has been,” he said.
All students at Franklin Community Middle School attended the special service, with band and choir students performing “Taps” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “America the Beautiful,” and the official song from each branch of the military.
Each student who had a close family member who was a veteran stood. That included most of the school.
And students submitted photos of loved ones who served or were serving in the military. Those photos were part of a slide show at the end of the service. Students were asked to take time to reflect on what veterans do and how their service has given them the freedom that they enjoy today.
“You can see how close those who served are to us,” said Steve Ahaus, principal of Franklin Community Middle School.
