Curt Emerie with the South Lake Tahoe American Legion speaks Nov. 11. Photo/Kathryn Reed

A hush fell over the crowd as each speaker expressed the importance of Veterans Day.

Nearly 90 people attended the South Lake Tahoe ceremony at the American Legion.

Patty Smith, whose son died in the Iraq war, spoke of how she took freedoms for granted before Timmy died. She apologized for having done so.

Mayor Hal Cole spoke of the sacrifices his 92-year-old father made fighting in World War II. He talked about his friends who went to Vietnam. Those who came back were forever changed, while many returned in a flag covered casket.

Veterans Day marks the end of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. At the time it was called the war to end all wars.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report