What Veterans Day Means To Me!

On November 11, 1999 I marched in the Veterans Day parade in Pittsburgh and participated in a Veterans Day Ceremony with the Tarentum VFW Post 5758. I was so proud to be at both and was very glad that I could honor all of my HEREOS!!!!!

This is me and Powmia (my bear) marching in the parade, one of our proudest moments.....this was our way of saying THANK YOU to all of the Veterans!

Then we went to the park for a ceremony that the Tarentum VFW Post 5758 had. I was so proud to honor our Veterans!

The ceremony was just beautiful and I was so glad I was there, but what I didn't know was that Commander Willison was going to call me up on the stage!

I was there to honor all of America's Heroes and I was so surprised because the VFW honored me!!!!!

They are one of the greatest groups of people that I have ever met and I thank them so much for everything they have done for me.  At the ceremony they presented me with a Certificate of Appreciation, the FDC of the POW/MIA stamp, pins, coins and a "Proud to be an American" sweat shirt!!!!!  My arms were very full when I left the stage!!! This Post is very special to me, they have adopted me and I have adopted them!!!!

Another surprise at the ceremony was that there was a photographer from our local paper and he was taking pictures for the paper.  When the ceremony was over he told me that he was going to have a reporter call me to do an interview.  Well they did and here is the article!!!!

Thank you Doc for putting this up for me!

On November 12, 1999 we had a Veterans Day Service at my school and every Veteran I knew and invited came to share it with me!!!! I even had a few surprises at school too!!!!

This picture was taken by Syl, one of the wonderful Veterans that I met at the Moving Wall. I was so glad to see him again, he takes the BEST pictures of me!!!! Thanks Syl!!!!!

I got to do the opening reading for the service. My mom said that this was was my first public practice for the Presidency and I hope she is right! The picture of me is another wonderful one taken by Syl and the reading I did is beside it!

Today there is, and perhaps there always will be, conflict in the world. But the United States fortunately enjoys peace and freedom.      Like other things of great value, this security did not come cheaply. Part of the cost has already been paid by Americans who answered the call to military duty when their country needed them. They served in eleven wars from the Revolution to the Persian Gulf, earning the special distinction "Veteran".      But, another part of freedom's cost must continue to be paid long after the guns have been silenced.  This debt is owed to America's Veterans.      Some need their country's help, just as their country once needed theirs, to readjust, to recover from wounds or to overcome hardships of age and infirmity. Most need and ask nothing in repayment of their sacrifices.      Let us continue to help those Veterans in need with the greatest possble compassion and efficiency. To the rest, since they ask no special help, we can best pay tribute this day by recognizing what they have achieved and joining them in their resolve to keep America strong and free.

This is the Officer in Charge of my local Post Office.  On behalf of the school I accepted a framed "Honoring Those Who Served" Stamp. It is now proudly hanging in my school!

This is me and Commander Willison (again), this time at my school. The VFW presented me with all of the things they gave me at the ceremony. I was so glad that they came to my school too!  Their Color Guard presented the Colors and it was just beautiful! My "adopted" Post!!!!!!

This is the Tarentum VFW Post 5758 Ladies Auxiliary! Brenda, Linda and Etta I love these ladies, they are so great to me!!!!!!

I got called to the microphone one more time, but this time I didn't know by who!!!! When my principal called me up the next thing I heard was that "Louise Hoover" would like to present something to Nikki! I was so surprised (mom didn't even tell me she was coming) and I was so excited.  This was "our Weezie"!!!!!!!!! We had never met before, only through the Internet. She presented me, on behalf of her American Legion Post and Operation Just Cause, a POW/MIA shirt, a desk flag, a magnet and I was so proud!!! I couldn't believe that I got to meet her!!! Thank you so much Weezie, I am so glad I met you and I am very proud of you!!!

Weezie made this snow globe for me, and I just love it!!!!!!! This is me Mr. Kridlo and Mr. Trestan at the PA SouthWestern Veterans Center!  They couldn't make it to the school this year and I really missed them! Thank you so much Weezie!!!!!

This is me and Weezie outside the school, ready to say goodbye. I am so glad she came and that I got to meet her!! Thanks Weezie!

This is the mother of Sgt. Arlie Robert Mangus, my special adopted POW/MIA. It meant so much to me that she came because she is my "adopted" POW/MIA mother!

Another great one by Syl! Yes, I go to a Catholic School! Mom won't do "government schools" (that's what she calls the public schools)

This is me and Powmia at the end of the ceremony. This was taken by Syl and my mom says this picture is the best!

Me and The Girls!!

Look how patriotic we are at my school!!! These are my friends: Lauren, Jessica, Jennifer and Kayla, showing our great smiles for Mrs. Clifford's camera after the Veterans Day Service.  Of course, this is another one of Doc's wonderful graphics!!! It shows how proud we are!! Thanks Mrs. Clifford for the picture and a special thank you to Doc who always makes my web pages better!!!

My mom took this one of me after everyone had left! Can't you tell how happy I was!!!

On December 12, 1999 I was invited the VFW Post 5758 Christmes party because "Santa" had a special present for me!!! Click the VFW Christmas Flag to see my great pictures!!!!!