Veterans braved rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ida to attend the Veteran's Day Ceremony Wednesday.

More than 50 people attended the 91st anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. The ceremony was moved to the Clint V. Willis National Guard Armory on account of the weather.

The speaker was U.S. Rep Larry Kissell, who serves on the House Armed Forces Committee and whose father, Richard Kissell, served in World War II.

The congressman from Biscoe remembered his father while speaking about the accomplishments of veterans.

He also remembered the 30th Division, a National Guard unit called the Old Hickory Division, that overcame all odds shortly after D-Day because of their American heritage.

He said American soldiers took hold of a piece of turf at Normandy, but had not moved inland.

"As time was moving on and as August came about, our leaders were worried that the German counter attack that hadn't come, if it came, if we could hold the Germans off and if we could hold on to the piece of French land we had occupied," Kissel said.

"The German counter attack came in mid-August," Kissell said. "It was three of the German's best divisions hit and they happened to hit the place where the 30th Division was. This Old Hickory National Guard group that was never considered quite as good as the rest of the army took on Hitler's best."

While army leaders were worried that the Old Hickory Division would falter under such an attack, the unit held its ground, allowing Patton's Armored Division to flank the German Army and in a matter of weeks evict the German armies from France.

Kissell said military success happened "all because a group of National Guardsmen turned to real soldiers well. And they held because they were Americans."

The congressman said recognizing those brave soldiers of the Old Hickory Division who held their ground, and all veterans who fought for this country, is an important endeavor for all Americans.

"It's as simple as recognizing the greatness of the country," Kissell said. "Who made it great, who protected us through the years is our veterans and their families who stood up with them. We owe our security and protection to them."

The freshman North Carolina congressman wasn't the only one to speak of the importance of remembering those who fought for this country.

Maj. Thomas Long, U.S. Army, spoke to those veterans at Scotia Village during a breakfast ceremony.

He credited those who served before him, from the American soldiers who braved communist forces in Korea and Vietnam to those that deposed the Axis powers across Europe and Asia, with setting the example for the modern U.S. service member.

Long himself had a World War II vet inspire his service to the country.

"My Life was shaped by my grandfather, Eddie Adeimy," Thomas said.

Adeimy spent 40 years serving the stars and strips in ever-changing roles. When he was 50, he became a helicopter pilot and spent his last seven years in the military flying.

Long says he remembered his grandfather coming to his graduation ceremony from flight school and pinning a set of wings on his uniform. When Long looked down, he said his wings were on sideways, something he quickly brought to Adeimy's attention.

His grandfather then said "That's how it looks for pilots from my view."

Long said that the veterans of World War II and many past wars have inspired the present generation and he hopes his generation can share their experiences with their families.

"You've told your story, and I hope our generation will do the same," Long told Scotia residents.