Colfax Veterans Day program scheduled for November 9
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COLFAX — The School District of Colfax will be hosting the annual Veterans Day program on Friday, November 9, at 10 a.m. in the Colfax High School gymnasium.
The theme for this year’s Veterans Day program is “The War to End All Wars.”
The program will be unique in that it will include a history of the “Pledge of Allegiance” and some of the history of the United States Army.
The program will include elementary students singing patriotic songs, music by the middle school band and the high school band, and the high school choir.
The keynote speaker will be Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Jesse Boettcher.
CSM(R) Boettcher is a native of Luck and enlisted in the United States Army Reserves as an Infantryman in 1988 and entered active duty in 1990.
CSM(R) Boettcher’s first overseas assignment was with the 3rd Infantry Division in Wurzburg, Germany. In 1992 he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, to serve in the 1/327 Inf. Scout Platoon.
In 1995 CSM Boettcher attended the Special Forces Qualification Course. After graduation, he returned to Fort Campbell to serve on ODA 551 in 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (A).
In 1998, CSM Boettcher volunteered for selection and subsequent assignment with a Special Mission Unit. He served there for 12 years as an Assaulter, Sniper, Team Sergeant, and Troop Sergeant Major.
In 2010 CSM Boettcher became the first enlisted soldier to be selected for the Army’s Congressional Fellowship Program. After working on Capitol Hill for a year as Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison’s (R-Texas) military assistant, CSM Boettcher worked as the Congressional Liaison for HQ US Army Special Operations Command.
He then served in Afghanistan for a year as the CSM of ISAF-SOF. His final job in the Army was in Germany, where he served as the CSM for 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group.
CSM Boettcher has numerous deployments throughout the Middle East, Africa, and the Balkans, including 11 combat deployments.
CSM(R) Boettcher’s military awards and decorations include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, six Bronze Star Medals, and other awards commensurate with his rank and time in service. CSM(R) Boettcher has also been awarded the Special Forces Tab, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Military Freefall Jumpmaster Badge, Senior Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Excellence in Competition Marksmanship Badge (Rifle).
His foreign awards include Airborne wings from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and Germany.
CSM Boettcher’s civilian education includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Excelsior College and a Master’s Degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University.
Jesse Boettcher retired from active duty in October of 2016 and now resides in Hayward and is married to Nicole (a U.S. Air Force Veteran) and has three children.
Following the Colfax Veterans Day program on Friday, November 9, cookies and coffee will be available for veterans and visitors, and veterans will receive a special gift as well.