David Drummond told a Veterans Day observance in Junction City people in all nations have a right to live in a world free of tyranny.

Freedom can have a stiff price. Drummond, the retired Deputy Director of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and former Army officer, noted that more than 425,000 Americans were killed in combat in the 20th century alone. He added new Soldiers will be fighting the global war on terrorism. One point: “By definition anybody who served honorably on active duty is a veteran.”

Drummond noted more than 200,000 service men and women are deployed overseas on and many of them are Kansans. “You can find them patrolling the streets of Iraqi cities or hunting terrorists in the mountains of Afghanistan.” While the forces are deployed this country is fortunate to have many organizations such as the Geary County Veterans Alliance. VFW, the American Legion, and the DAV that provide assistance to Soldiers and their families.

The Veterans Day observance was held at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.