In 1918, the Armistice silenced the last gun on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month during World War I, which is now known as Veterans Day.

The crowd fell silent as three volleys were fired by the EIU ROTC Panther Battalion to honor all veterans- past, present and future- during the Veterans Day Commemoration in front of Old Main Thursday morning.

Residents from the community were invited to attend and listen to veterans speak about what this day means to them.

Of them, Jon Crask, a community veteran who served in Korean, said Veterans Day is a celebration of lives risked and preserved.

“It’s for those that lived, us,” Crask said. “Freedoms we enjoy are held in place by those who stand ready and able to visit death and destruction on the threat of violence from those who would endanger our country and the peace of the world.”

Crask said it is important to say “thank you” to those veterans who are still here.

“On Veterans Day, the ones we honor can hear us, I urge you to take advantage of that,” Crask said.

Ann Boehlefeld, an Eastern student veteran, served in the Navy for more than 11 years and during the War for Iraqi Freedom, spoke of what Veterans Day means to her.

“I’ve always thought that Veterans Day was a special day to remember family and friends that have served or who are serving, though I never thought that one day I would be one of them,” Boehlefeld said.

Boehlefeld is a third-generation service member in her family.

Her grandfather, great uncle, uncle and two cousins all served in different branches of the army.

President William Perry spoke on behalf of the university to give thanks to veterans who have served the country for protecting the freedom of having an educational system “second to none.”

Perry, wearing his father’s high school graduation ring, said he appreciates the veterans benefits given to his father to allow him to go to school after serving in Korea.

“He was able to live the kind of life he wanted and to achieve what he wanted to achieve because of veterans benefits,” Perry said.

Perry said he is proud to be at a university that believes strong in veterans’ benefits and serving veterans.

“We can help people achieve their dreams, veterans who are back at school trying to achieve a goal, to achieve a better life,” Perry said.

Allison Twaits can be reached at 581-7942 or altwaits@eiu.edu.