Ray Griffin of Glover (sitting) is a World War II veteran. His brother, Everett, was killed in the war. Ray was one of the speakers at the Tribute to Gold Star Families. Also seen in the photo is Scott Wheeler of Derby, the publisher of the Northland Journal, whose family, along with the Elks Lodge in Derby, hosted the event. Photo from the Scott Wheeler Collection

                                  Gold Star father Nathan Strong led the openning prayer

 Members of North Country Union High School’s JROTC took part in the ceremony. Photo by Chris Roy

 U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders said we must not ever forget the sacrifices of veterans, those who parished at war and those who returned home. Photo from the Scott Wheeler Collection

Vermont Auditor, Thomas Salmon Jr., who is also an Iraq War veteran provided touching words to the Gold Star Families. Photo by Chris Roy

 Marion Gray of Calais, the spokesperson for Vermont’s Fallen Families, lost her son, Jamie, in Iraq.  Photo by Chris Roy

– Vicki Strong of Albany lost her son, Jesse, in Iraq. Her husband, Pastor Nathan Strong, provided the opening prayer. Photo by Chris Roy

 When Marshall Frizzell was killed in Vietnam in 1966 he left behind a widow and t hree young children. Mr. Frizzell’s widow, Carlisle “Carlie” Whitehill of Island Pond, spoke at the Gold Star tribute. Photo by Chris Roy

 Caroline Heydinger of Vernon, a senior at Brattleboro Union High School, who came in second in the National American Legion Oratorical Contest held in Indianapolis in March, spoke at the event. Photo by Chris Roy

 Anne McClaughry, a director with the Ethan Allen Institute, one of the speakers, lost an uncle in World War II. Photo by Chris Roy

 Some of the Gold Star Families brought photos and memorabilia of their lost loved ones. From the Scott Wheeler Collection

  More memories of lost loved ones. From the Scott Wheeler Collection

  Gold Star brother and World War II veteran, Andy Pepin of Newport, and Lt. Abraham Begins of the Vermont National Guard, and an Iraq War veteran, takes part in the ceremonial cutting of the cake at the Gold Star tribute. Mr. Pepin’s brother, Alfred, was killed during World War II. Lt. Begins served as a guest speaker at the event. Photo by Chris Roy

  Hellen Therrien of Jay presents a plague to Merrick Labor, a member of the Alfred Pepin Post 798 in Newport, in honor of her son, Solomon Carias Bangayan. Mr. Bangayan was killed in Iraq. Photo by Chris Roy

This is a group of some of the Gold Star Families who attended the tribute. Photo by Chris Roy

Our family, along with the Elks Lodge in Derby, hosted the event. From Left to right: Nick, Emily, Scott, Penny, and Curtis Wheeler.Emily's musical video tribute was a tremendous hit. She created the tribute using photos of fallen veterans and the music of Toby Keith's song, "American Soldier". Our sons traveled to Vermont from their home in Maine so they could take part in our family tradition of honoring veterans.  Photo by Chris Roy 

  Photo from the Scott Wheeler Collection

More Photos to Come