War veterans (from left) James Swegles, Arthur Arnold, Leon Lucas and Charles Mahaney at the Newport Veterans Memorial (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

Veterans Day ceremonies across the Tristate were more immediate this year, with the nation engaged in military action in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Eden Park, a marching band played during a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans memorial. The memorial marks its 20th anniversary next year.

Army Lt. Col. Daniel Shea speaks at Sellman Middle School in Madeira. (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

Across Ohio, nowhere were ceremonies more poignant than in Cleveland, where the city's Veteran Employee of the Year couldn't accept his award in person because he'd been called to active duty. The parents of city employee and Army Reserve member Corbin Stacey accepted the award during a ceremony at City Hall.

At Tri-County North Elementary school in Lewisburg, near Dayton, school officials showed a moving video message from Maj. Beth Salisbury, on duty in Iraq, for her two sons and more than 1,000 other students.