Veterans had seats of honor at the front of the room, during a Veterans Day program at Hill Street Place on Monday. The program included a special recognition of Hill Street Place residents who were military veterans.

MARSHALL — Veterans Day is a time that carries a lot of meaning, Bill Palmer said.

“It’s a day to recall, and thank the people who served our nation in uniform, and who learned and grew and sacrificed during their service,” he said.

Palmer, a retired military veteran and teacher, was one of the many people in the area observing Veterans Day on Monday. In Marshall, programs honoring veterans were held at places including the Marshall Adult Community Center and Hill Street Place.

At the Adult Community Center, area residents reflected on the ways veterans served their country, and called on people to thank military service members.

Being part of the Veterans Day observances “just gives you a good feeling,” Judie Graffunder said. “This is something we can do, is thank our soldiers.”

Palmer spoke to residents of Hill Street Place on Monday morning. He said being part of the military is something that shapes veterans forever. His own journey as an Army veteran started with accepting an ROTC scholarship to college.

“I thought I would serve my four-year obligation from that ROTC scholarship. I ended up serving over 20 and-a-half years,” Palmer said.

“I’m proud of my service, and the Army taught me a lot,” Palmer said. Being in the Army taught him to be a teacher, to accept responsibility, and to make his corner of the Army a better place, he said.

Combat veterans are also shaped forever by their service, Palmer said.

“That combat experience is a part of them,” he said. “We, the people of the United States, ask them to go far away, to do dangerous things on our behalf. Our combat veterans are the ones who came home. They will be the first to tell you the heroes are the ones who did not come home.”

Palmer invited people to share about loved ones who were veterans, and to keep them in mind this Veterans Day. He also asked people to find ways to serve in their own communities.

“You don’t have to put on a uniform to be of service to others,” he said. “I believe I can speak for all veterans when I challenge each of you to look for ways you can be of service to others. That would be a great way to honor veterans.”