A group of veterans, their families and church members gathered Sunday for an annual Veterans Day service at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in North Dallas that honored service members with patriotic music, blessings and prayers.
As service began, a choir performed a cappella hymns from a balcony, their voices echoing through the sanctuary. Tall candles burned in front of a white, floor-to-ceiling marble wall behind the stage, adorned with large Texas, American and Episcopal Church flags.
A program honored 210 veterans whose names had been submitted by parishioners, including several dozen in attendance Sunday and others who were deceased or currently serving.
The Rev. Canon Carl Andrews, a retired United States Air Force colonel, gave a sermon about what it means to be a veteran.
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Andrews said he comes from a family of veterans, including his father, grandfather and two of his daughters.
He reminded listeners of the history of Veterans Day, which falls on the anniversary of the armistice which was signed on Nov. 11, 1918, and ended World War I.
Andrews talked about the sacrifices that veterans and their families make, frequently repeating the refrain “all gave some, some gave all.”
“A number of you here still suffer from your wounds, and you are not alone,” he said at the end of his message.
The Rev. Robin Hinkle read a litany from the Book of Worship for the United States Armed Forces, thanking God for veterans’ service to their country and holding them up as an inspiration for attendees.
As service ended, several dozen veterans gathered on stage for a photo, with a few holding flags representing their branch of the military.
A group of veterans takes the stage as Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church holds its annual Veterans Day service in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
Anja Schlein / Special Contributor
John Morelock, 93, said after service that he had been a member at the church for 65 years and served in the army in Korea in the 1950s. He loved the music at Sunday’s service; “Wasn’t it glorious?” he asked in an interview.
“It means a lot more to me to be a veteran now than when I was 20 in Korea,” Morelock said. He said his time in the military led him to love his country more deeply and to want to ensure its stability.
John Vuyosevich, 80, said Sunday was his first time going to the Veterans Day service at the church, which he attends with his wife. He served in the military during the Vietnam War as a lieutenant in the Navy, including aboard the USS Intrepid. On Sunday, he wore a jacket with the ship’s name embroidered on it.
Vuyosevich said he was named after his uncle, who served and died during World War II. “I always thought it was an obligation of a U.S. citizen to be part of the military if it was needed,” he said. Vuyosevich said being in the military felt like being part of an ant colony — where each individual plays a small part in something bigger.
He worried that that spirit of cooperation was increasingly absent from the country he fought for, and said the U.S. is at a crossroads. “Our country was made great because [of] people working together,” he said. “Our politicians today are working for themselves.”
John Ellerman, 79, has attended the church’s Veterans Day service for years, but was unable to attend Sunday due to an injury. In an interview before the event, he encouraged his neighbors to remember the sacrifices made by veterans.
The choir sings as Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church holds its annual Veterans Day service in Dallas, Sunday, Nov. 9, 2025.
Anja Schlein / Special Contributor
Ellerman said he served in multiple branches of the military during the Vietnam War, and when he returned home, he faced a less-than-grateful response from the public. He understood why his fellow Americans criticized the war, but highlighted that many who served during the conflict were drafted, and didn’t have a choice over whether to serve.
Particularly given that experience, Ellerman said, it means a lot to him now when others thank him for his military service.
“That little gesture of admiration is so important to each and every veteran,” he said. “They served with honor and dignity, and it should be recognized as such.”