Mayor Skinner’s Veteran’s Day Remarks

BUCKHANNON, WV: Mayor Robbie Skinner delivered the following remarks as he provided a “Welcome” to the 2024 Veteran’s Day Service at Jawbone Park on Monday, November 11, 2024.

Good morning!

It is a tremendous honor to stand before you today, as we gather to pay tribute to all of those who have served in our nation’s armed forces. Today is not just day off from work or school—today is Veterans’ Day, a time when we pause to remember the sacrifices made by generations of brave men and women who have defended the freedoms we hold dear.

As I look out over our community, I’m reminded that we have always been one of resilience, strength, and service. Whether it’s our business leaders, farmers, teachers, or volunteers, the spirit of Buckhannon has always been about serving others. And like many communities throughout Appalachia, that spirit of service extends to our veterans, those who have given so much for us to live in the land of the free.

Here in our region, we are fortunate to have many veterans among us— over 110,000 in fact, in West Virginia alone— who, when called upon, answered with courage and dedication. We are the state that has mined the coal that produced the steel. We have generated the energy from our mountains that has powered our nation for centuries. So it should be no surprise that West Virginians have fought our battles and won our wars. Bravery, sacrifice, hard work, service above self, and love of country all run deep here. These are the values that make our nation the greatest in the world.

Today, recognize these values all possessed by our veterans—whether on battlefields, in times of peace, or in the quiet moments that follow service. For some, the wounds are visible; for others, they are deeply hidden. But what we all know is that our veterans carry the weight of their service, often with the quiet dignity and humility that we admire.

To all our veterans today—here in Buckhannon and beyond— we collectively say thank you. Your courage and commitment have made a lasting impact on our nation, your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

I encourage everyone here to take a moment today to reflect on what it means to be a veteran, and to reach out to those who have served. Just a simple “thank you” sometimes can make all the difference.

Our City of Buckhannon is built on the values of honor, respect, and service. Today, we reaffirm our commitment to those values, and we pledge to support our veterans, both past and present, as they have supported us.

May God Bless all our veterans, our City of Buckhannon, and the State of West Virginia. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Thank you.

Mayor Robbie Skinner

###