By Lori EhdeLuverne native Arvin Olson was the guest speaker at Friday’s Veterans Day banquet in Hardwick."All over the nation today, Americans are gathering together to remember and pay tribute to our veterans," he said in the Hardwick American Legion Hall."Today is a chance to thank those who have selflessly answered the call to duty and to remember those who have served. Any morning we wake up on free land, it’s because of men and women like these."Olson, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, is a 1974 Luverne High School graduate and the son of Betty Olson, Luverne, and the late Alvin Olson.In his address, he recognized the importance of family support."They may not carry a rucksack on their backs, but they have carried the weight of worrying about their soldier, probably the most cumbersome burden anyone can bear," Olson said."They carry that burden until their soldier returns. … Tragically, some never do."Olson said Veterans Day is a time to thank and honor Americans who have served in the military, especially during times of war."They are ordinary people who have been placed in extraordinary circumstances," he said. "Soldiers and veterans are people who know the true meaning of courage."Olson has more than 30 years of military service and currently is assistant deputy chief of staff of the 88th Regional Readiness Command, U.S. Army Reserve, at Fort Snelling. He has been awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Medal with Bronze Star, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass and "M" device, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Training Ribbon with numeral 9 and the Army Air Assault Badge.Olson and his wife, Carole, have five children and live in New Prague.