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How do you express thanks to someone who risked their life and limb for you?

That was the question Lt. Col. Simon Brown II of the Alaska Army National Guard posed to the crowd at the Veterans Day ceremony held at the Soldotna Sports Center Tuesday. While there are certainly holidays, such as Veterans Day, set aside for acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who have or continue to serve, he had another idea for thanking them.

"There's only one way we all can do this. When you see a veteran, stop, and say thank you," he said.

The simple two-word phrase, Brown explained, means far more to veterans than it might first imply.

"The veteran does not need your pity, just your appreciation and support," he said.

Hosted by American Legion Post 20, giving thanks themed the hour and 15-minute ceremony, comprised of prayers, speeches, readings, a POW-MIA memorial ceremony and laying of the wreathes.

Despite the snowy roads, the conference room was largely filled up -- to the delight of American Legion Post 20 Adjutant Bob Harrison, who helped organize the event.

"Early on we figured, 'Oh golly there aren't many here,' but then after it gets going you look back and all the dog-gone seats are taken." Harrison said of the 300 seats set up.

Harrison, who has helped to organize the event in previous years, said these events are an important way to thank veterans, as Brown suggested.

Barbara Brinkerhoff, who led the POW-MIA table ceremony and prayer, agreed, and said often the struggles and perils veterans went through are pushed aside or not spoken of. Brinkerhoff's late husband, Russell, who died in August of 1997, served in the Army Air Corps during the Second World War. He was shot down over Germany and captured, where we was held as a POW for 16 months.

"My husband didn't talk about the things that he experienced in the prisoner of war camp until very, very late in life. In fact, his own children didn't even know about a lot of things that happened to him," Brinkerhoff said.

After joining the American Ex-Prisoners of War Association, Brinkerhoff said her husband was encouraged to talk about his experiences.

"In talking about it, it was very therapeutic for him. As his friends came to know about it they became supportive of it too," She said.

Brinkerhoff recommended that veterans talk about their experiences with their spouses, parents or other loved ones.

Emotions were visible all through the ceremony. Several speakers paused to brush away a few tears. The rifle salute and playing of taps however, elicited the most.

The boom outside the conference room windows from the rifles of American Legion Post 20 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10046, sent a shock through the room. As the somber bugle call mixed in with the thundering rifles, hats came off heads, the sound of sniffles punctuated the air, and many a hand was set on a nearby shoulder.

Dante Petri can be reached at dante.petri@peninsulaclarion.com.