Photos: Veterans Day ceremony at Alaska National Guard armory

World War II veterans Louis "Jiggs" Gigliotti, 103, and Gordon Severson, 94, who was awarded the Purple Heart medal four times and a Bronze Star for valor during the Korean War and served in Vietnam, share a moment after a Veterans Day ceremony at the Alaska National Guard armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

The Department of Veterans Affairs hosted a Veterans and Remembrance Day ceremony on Monday at the Alaska National Guard armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Wounded combat veteran Gordon Severson, 94, was there and said he attends ceremonies for the “camaraderie of being with other veterans that went through a lot of similar things.”

Severson enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was underage at the time. He was awarded four Purple Heart medals and a Bronze Star for valor during the Korean War, and also served during the Vietnam War.

“I remember Civil War veterans being honored as they rode on farm wagons during Memorial Day and Armistice Day parades in Osseo, Wisconsin,” Severson said after Monday’s ceremony.

Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard and commissioner of Department of Military and Veterans Affairs gave the keynote address during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Alaska National Guard armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

From left, combat wounded veterans Benno Cleveland, who served in Vietnam, and Gordon Severson who served during WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars, and Col. Dan Collins (Ret.) who served in Afghanistan, attended a Veterans Day ceremony in the Alaska National Guard armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Roses were placed during a Fallen Warrior ceremony by a Joint Forces Honor Guard at the Veterans Day ceremony in the Alaska National Guard armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

A Joint Forces Honor Guard performed a Fallen Warrior ceremony during a Veterans Day ceremony hosted by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs at the Alaska National Guard armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Retired U.S. Air Force veterans Tech. Sgt. George Darrow, left, and Lt. Col. Robert Sherrill stand as Wild Blue Yonder, part of a United States Armed Forces Medley, played during a Veterans Day ceremony at the Alaska National Guard armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday. (Bill Roth / ADN)

From left, combat wounded veterans Benno Cleveland, who served in Vietnam, Gordon Severson, who served during WWII and the Korean and Vietnam wars, and Col. Dan Collins (Ret.) who served in Afghanistan, salute during the playing of Taps at a Veterans Day ceremony in the Alaska National Guard armory on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Photos: Veterans Day ceremony at Alaska National Guard armory

The ceremony was attended by decorated veterans who served as far back as World War II.

Bill Roth