by April Scheinoha
Reporter
“I’ve learned above all else that we are very lucky. I don’t know if you guys realize this, but everybody in this room, I can guarantee you today, you’ve already won the lottery in life,” said Curtis Zoller. “The reason why I say that is because you’re a part of the United States of America. You live here.”
Zoller spoke at a Veterans Day program held Monday, Nov. 11 at Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls. It was the 100th Veterans Day program to be held at the school.
Zoller, a retired chief warrant officer, served in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea and Africa. The Thief River Falls resident retired from the Army National Guard in 2017. Zoller is now employed as the associate dean of aerospace and agriculture at Northland Community and Technical College.
Zoller told attendees that Veterans Day is a way to honor veterans and their families for their daily sacrifices.
Serving in the military has given Zoller perspective. “We talk about being hungry. We talk about, you know, being poor, whatever else it is,” said Zoller, who noted he used to joke about growing up in a mobile home and having his pillow stick against the wall in the winter. Those thoughts changed when he saw people starving to death.
“It’s a different world out there, and the military, across the board for me, has given me perspective,” said Zoller. “You talk about priorities and what you’re going to do with your life, where you’re going to be and where you’re going to go.”
Serving in the military has also taught him that the world is an amazing place. Yes, he has lost friends to war. However, Zoller said, “All the terror that’s out there, the tragedies, there’s that many more great people out there trying to make a difference.”