Last week was a busy one here in Meridian. From honoring our Veterans at the Rock of Honor, to the outcomes of our local elections, it's been a time of reflection, celebration, and thankfulness.

Last Saturday many residents gathered at the Rock of Honor in Kleiner Park to pay tribute to our veterans. These courageous individuals have selflessly protected our freedoms, and it's important we take time to express gratitude. The event, hosted by the Rock of Honor Board and other local veterans' organizations, featured a keynote address by Todd Carlson who served in the U.S. Army as part of the 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) in Washington, D.C. Carlson was a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and shared experiences and insights from his dedication and service.

Another significant element of the ceremony was a tribute to John Harrington Burns, a Meridian resident and military veteran who is regarded as the founder of the Rock of Honor. Burns, who served in the Navy during World War II, had been very involved with veteran's issues while living in the eastern U.S. Upon moving to Meridian in 2005, he noticed that our community lacked a memorial dedicated to local veterans. A recording was played of Burns remarks from the Rock of Honor’s May 28, 2012, dedication ceremony after he spearheaded the efforts to create the monument in Kleiner Park.

Last week our community voted for our elected leadership at the City of Meridian and West Ada School District. I want to congratulate both those who were elected, as well as those who stood for public office. It isn’t easy to put your name on the ballot and I applaud all those who did.

Once all the votes were counted, the following are your West Ada School District Trustees; Lucas Baclayon (Zone 2), Dave Binetti (Zone 4), and Rene Ozuna (Zone 5). Additionally, we had City Council elections for some of our Districts. Congratulations to Liz Strader (District 2) who was re-elected; Anne Little-Roberts (District 5) who is returning to City Council, and newcomer Doug Taylor (District 3).  They join John Overton (District 4) who was unopposed and will serve the remaining two years for his seat. The dedication of these individuals to our community as public servants is commendable. In the new year, we'll share more about those who will serve on City Council.

And with all elections, l want to take a moment to extend my gratitude to those who took time to vote. I also want to say thank you to the volunteers and staff of the Ada County Elections, who performed this massive undertaking. I appreciate these volunteer’s dedication in keeping the integrity of our elections a focus. Their time is valued.

As we fast approach Thanksgiving, I am reminded of how blessed we are in Meridian. Whether you are traveling or staying home for next weeks holiday, let's remember to offer our time and talents to those in need within our community for this and the Christmas holiday. There's immense value in coming together to support one another with donations of food, presents, and cash to help make everyone’s holidays special.