A cold wind, similar but not as harsh as the wind during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War, kept flags flapping during the Veterans Day observance at Veterans Memorial Park in Washington on Friday.

Jerry Cobb, a 20-year Army veteran who now works as a veterans employment representative at the N.C. Employment Security Commission’s Washington office, was the keynote speaker. Cobb said veterans who served their country should take advantage of the services, programs and benefits they are entitled to receive.

“I would like to say to you that this event has done nothing but grown larger each year,” Cobb said. “I see the community supporting veterans more and more. … I see a lot of faces out here who support every Veterans Day.”

Cobb also said veterans should take advantage of the preferences afforded veterans seeking jobs.

Bartow Houston, a member of American Legion Post 15, paid tribute to the nation’s POWs and MIAs, saying the nation deserves a full accounting of each POW and MIA.

Betty Ross, a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 15, talked about what veterans have provided the nation.

“It is a veteran, not the preacher, who has given you your freedom of religion.

“It is a veteran, not the reporter, who has given you freedom of the press.

“It is a veteran, not the poet, who has given you freedom of speech.

“It is a veteran, not the liberal protesters, who has given you the freedom to assemble.

“It is a veteran, and not the lawyer, who has given you the right to a fair trial.

“It is a veteran, and not the politician, who has given you the right to vote.”

As part of the observance, veterans and active-duty military members stood to be recognized as the service song of their respective branch of the armed forces played over a public-address system. Merchant Marine veterans were honored that way, too.