Marking Veterans Day, Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert said the citizens of Utah are AWOL from their basic civic duties.

In Nov. 2001, in the midst of the patriotic fervor that swept the nation following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Utah's voter turnout was a "puzzling" 25 percent, he said.

Noting that he is Utah's chief elections officer, Herbert said turnout at this week's elections was slightly higher, with 33.1 percent of registered voters going to the polls.

"It's puzzling, frustrating, and somewhat discouraging," he said. "We have had men and women in harm's way for many generations now to protect our basic liberties, but as citizens we are AWOL from our basic responsibilities. I do think we owe it to those who have fought and died for us to take the opportunity to participate in our civic duties."

Herbert was the keynote speaker at Saturday's Veterans Day program and flag replacement ceremony at the Orem cemetery.

"I am more blurry-eyed than usual," he said, noting he had been up since 2 a.m. in anticipation of the birth of his eighth grandchild, a boy, who was taking his time being born at American Fork Hospital. Herbert said the birth had been going more slowly than anticipated and he was going back to the hospital after the ceremony to be present at the birth.

The occasion, combined with Veteran's Day, led him to wonder what kind of world his grandson was entering, Herbert said.

"I am pleased he is being born an American, in this great country," he said. "He will have opportunity and responsibility. ... We have a great deal to be grateful for to those who have gone before us."

On Veterans Day, our country celebrates the noble men and women of the military, he said.

"We have not always been perfect in what we have done," he said of the military, "but our purpose and cause has been good."

Saturday's 9 a.m. ceremony opened with a BYU Army ROTC cannon salute and parade of veterans on foot and in vintage World War II jeeps and modern, recently retired military vehicles. Veterans then retired the American flag flying at the Veteran's memorial at the cemetery, replacing it with a new flag, following which, each of the flags representing the branches of the military were also replaced as the Orem High School band played a medley of military hymns.

Military branch flags that were replaced included the Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and the POW/MIA. This was followed by a 21-gun salute and taps.

The BYU ROTC Air Force rifle drill team then performed an intricate, choreographed salute.

Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn noted the children playing soccer in the field below the cemetery, saying their youthful joy was the sound of freedom. All should be grateful to those who have secured the freedom the rest of us enjoy daily, he said.

After the 90-minute ceremony at the cemetery, attended by about 100, the crowd moved to the SCERA for a free patriotic program, where again the colors were presented, followed by the flags of the branches of the military.

Cheri Vickery, president of the Utah Blue Star Mothers, spoke, telling the audience that respect for freedom and those who fight for it must be passed generation to generation.

"They must know the rights and privileges they enjoy because of the sacrifices" of men and women in uniform, she said. "We must take every opportunity to show gratitude to those who have served on our behalf. We are greatly indebted to them. This is a national debt that can only be truly paid by individual Americans."

With U.S. troops once again "in harm's way on foreign shores, we may not agree with the actions taken by our leaders -- we do have that right -- but in public we must not give the enemy the opportunity to divide us and thereby jeopardize the safety of our troops. Not on our watch."

Today's military families need support, she said, especially as they face enemies "who would delight in seeing this great nation fall to its knees," she said.

The patriotic celebration ended with a presentation of memorabilia to World War II POW Maj. Calvin "Bill" Elton Jr., who lived through the Bataan death march. Elton did not speak.