Staff Sergent Mike Stanek tells Pine River-Backus students to thank veterans whenever they see them.

Stanek said he's been in the military for nine years, five months and 18 days and was deployed to Iraq in 2004-05.

Stanek said he was at PR-B's Veteran's Day program to represent the younger generation of veterans. "I used to think a veteran was someone who was old and who fought in old wars," he said. "That's not the case. Men and women who don uniforms and (have) fought for freedoms that we have today, those are veterans."

Fewer than 1 percent of U.S. citizens serve their country through the military, Stanek said.

"Do not take for granted the sacrifices that have taken place in order to give you choices," he told the students.

Stanek said that while he was in Iraq, he personally saw the other end of the spectrum where women and children did not have choices.

"Women didn't have the right to vote, children did what they were told, even if they did not want to do it," he recalled.

Mackenzie Rubitschung places a rose at a table in honor of the POW and MIA soldiers.

He said we should all be thankful for the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms.

"The choice to wake up every day and be an upstanding citizen... should be utmost on your mind that day," he said.

I challenge you to show respect to everyone who has come before you, all your mentors, teachers, adults: they've been in your shoes."

Stanek also challenged the students to thank veterans whenever they see them, not just on days like the Fourth of July or Veteran's Day.

Senior Cate Zebroski attended American Legion Auxiliary Girls' State last June.

She told the audience at the Veteran's Day program that she is grateful for the political knowledge she gained by attending Girls' State along with 400 girls from all over Minnesota.

They had the opportunity to represent cities, counties or political parties, and spend the week mock campaigning, voting and working on all levels of a mock-Minnesota government.

Zebroski said that she was elected mayor of her city and had the opportunity to make friends from all over the state.

The Girls' State participants visited the Capitol in St. Paul to experience what it's like to work at the capitol, debate bills on the Senate floor and hold trials in the Capitol courtrooms.

"The best knowledge I gained at Girls' State was the importance of patriotism and honoring our veterans, like we are today," she said.

Zebroski encouraged her classmates to participate in Girls' State and talk to Guidance Counselor Mary Sigan about attending next June.

Senior Jade Krueger, one of two girls in Minnesota to be chosen for American Legion Auxiliary Girls' Nation, told fellow students about her experiences.

Krueger was one of the top 98 female students in the country selected to partake in mock-political events at Girls' Nation.

Teacher Dick Larson plays the violin during the Veteran's Day program at PR-B School.

Washington D.C. trip highlights for her included spending time on Capitol Hill, meeting with U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and meeting with other important public leaders.

Krueger got to tour the White House and briefly met President Obama.

"I can't really explain to you how wonderful of an experience it was," she said of Girls' Nation.

She also got to visit Arlington National Cemetery and the Vietnam War Memorial. "The greatest lessons we learned were on patriotism and the sacrifices that our veterans make," Krueger said.

These vets give their time for us; they leave their families, their jobs, their lives, their homes and their comfort to serve our country. They give up their lives. The least we can do is honor them, so please thank a vet."