For 10 years, Ian Richardson has done military reenactments, showing displays on old military memorabilia and explaining the history of them.

On Nov. 12, the St. Louis resident did a military display during a Veterans Day presentation at Montgomery County Middle School while wearing his Army uniform. He was invited by his friend Cory Orr, who teaches eighth-grade social studies at MCMS, to come to the event.

“I don’t normally do stuff for Veterans Day,” said Richardson, who worked in museums for 10 years and is an historian on the civilian side. “I’m not super keen on it. I like talking to and educating the public and Cory asked me.”

Richardson was one of 22 veterans who were honored at the presentation. He has been with the Army for 11 years and is an Iraq veteran.

Montgomery County High School, Montgomery City Elementary School and Wellsville-Middletown R-I held their Veterans Day presentations on Nov. 11, which was Veterans Day. Jonesburg Elementary School held its Veterans Day event on Nov. 6.

During the MCMS Veterans Day presentation, Richardson talked about the importance of Veterans Day.

“This day exists because over 100 years ago, a massive conflict involved Europe and many nations across the world and took the lives of millions and millions of people,” Richardson said. “That conflict ended at the 11th hour, 11th day and the 11th month in 1918. It’s important to remember that day spurred on what we have today and that is known as Armistice Day.”

Richardson brought many items in his display, including a uniform that belonged to a first lieutenant in the Signal Corps named Peter Derenzo.

“He started out life as an enlisted guy as a sergeant in the Signal Corps,” Richardson said. “He was with a single battalion with a division called 106th Infantry Division. They’re famous because the 106th trained up and got overseas the day before the Battle of Bulge kicked off. He got on the line and the Bulge started. Their division got entirely surrounded and two of its three infantry regiments were captured and destroyed. He survived that and fought on through until February of 1945. He was chosen to become an officer.”

An Illinois native, Richardson went to basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga., in 2015 to start his military career. He said he is really enjoying his time at the Army.

“The best way to describe the military to anybody who is thinking about joining it is it’s 90 percent stuff that really annoys you and bothers you and 10 percent stuff that you won’t get to do anywhere else and you will always remember,” Richardson said.

The high school honored 38 veterans at its ceremony, including first-year R-II superintendent Dr. Brian White. White was a U.S. paratrooper at Folk Polk (now Fort Johnson), La., before going into the education business.

“When we look at our veterans, we see people who have faced uncertainty with courage, who embraced teamwork and the toughest of conditions and who have shown resilience when the world around them demanded strength,” MCHS principal Brian Ernst said. “Their service tells the story.”

MCE honored 45 veterans, including second-grade teacher Heaven-Leigh Dempsey, who served in the Marine Corps.

“Because of you (the veterans), our students are able to grow and learn in a country built with liberty and opportunity,” said Tara Polston, MCE’s librarian. “The program is our way of saying thank you.”