SILER CITY - An inspirational message and music highlighted the Veterans Day program, "Celebrating American Heroes," on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Central Carolina Community College's Siler City Center.

"To the veterans that are here today, thank you for your service," said U.S. Marines veteran Gary T. Tyson, who is Siler City Police Chief. "Celebrating veterans on Veterans Day is great, but I believe we should be celebrating our veterans every day, and not just with words but with out deeds because it's our veterans that keep us safe 365 days a year."

Chief Tyson went on to say that our veterans are the reason that we are the freest nation on Earth. "But, I'm here to tell you freedom is not free. These veterans endured long separations from their family; they miss many of their children's births and many other firsts that they couldn't get back," said Chief Tyson. "They were to far away places like Korea where they froze in zero temperatures. They baked in the jungles of Vietnam. Veterans fought through the dust storms in Iraq and fought the enemy in the deadly mountain regions of Afghanistan. ... Our debt to these heroes can never be repaid, but our gratitude and respect must last forever."

Wilson Lester, CCCC Veterans Upward Bound Program Outreach Coordinator, introduced Chief Tyson. Lester told the audience about the CCCC programs offered for veterans.

The 82nd Airborne Division's All-American Chorus provided special music for this patriotic event.

The program included student participation from the Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), and Adult High School/High School Equivalency (HSE) programs, which are under the College and Career Readiness (CCR) Department. Daniel Loges is the CCR Coordinator in Chatham County.

The event included a Wall of Stars recognition ceremony to honor veterans.

Della Newkirk, Lead ABE Instructor, organized the event in collaboration with the Siler City faculty, staff, and students. The Mistress of Ceremony was Anita Green, CCCC HSE Supervisor/Success Coach in Chatham County. Also present were Mark Hall, CCCC Chatham County Provost, and Nicole Brown, CCR Transitions Coordinator.

For more information on CCR programs, visit the website www.cccc.edu/ecd or call 919-545-8663 in Chatham County, 910-814-8971 in Harnett County, and 919-777-7701 in Lee County.