Local Schools Honor Veterans

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Published on November 10 2016 1:57 pm
Last Updated on November 10 2016 4:49 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Students at local schools Thursday took time to salute veterans and those on active duty on this day before Veterans Day. The salutes were held on Thursday since the students have Veterans Day off.

The Effingham High School observance was headed by the History Club, with help from the band and chorus and other students, and overseen by teachers Jim Hammer, Sarah Wyckoff, Aaron Witges and Ryan Ervin.

(THE GROUP OF VETERANS GATHERED AT EFFINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL THURSDAY MORNING FOR A VETERANS RECOGNITION CEREMONY)

All veterans present were given the chance to stand and be recognized. There was even one World War II veteran in attendance.

EHS student Harrison Smith led in the Pledge of Allegiance and the EHS Chorus presented the National Anthem. Hunter Diveley acknowledged a pictorial featuring relatives EHS students and teachers who served in the military, and also a mural depicting the flag-raising on Iwo Jima painted by Jaccob O'Leary, Bryce Kollman, Madison Trammel and Megan Webb.

The EHS band saluted the various branches of the military with the "Armed Forces Medley". Madi Crain shared about a special table set in the middle of the gymnasium to honor missing service personnel, and Whitni Bozdech introduced Sarah Lemar and Zoe Bridges who read poems about soldiers and war.

(SIERRA PAGEL AND ASH BLUNT SET A TABLE IN HONOR OF THOSE P-O-WS AND M-I-A)

 

Paige Weaver then led a segment on Letters from War, letters from history including a letter EHS student Cierra Rush-Inman read written to her when she was a small child by her father during his time serving in the Middle East. Alissa Kersey completed the segment singing a "Letters from War" song accompanied by piano and guitar.

(ALISSA KERSEY PERFORMS ACCOMPANIED BY MADELINE DAVIDSON ON KEYBOARD AND TREVOR KREKE ON GUITAR)

EHS student Emily Holland reminded those present to visit a display in the high school library developed by students featuring uniforms and other items donated for Veterans Day. Ash Blunt then led in the retiring of the POW/MIA flag, "Taps", and the exit of the Honor Guard.

(SOME OF THE ITEMS ON DISPLAY IN THE E-H-S LIBRARY SALUTING AREA VETERANS)

Special ceremonies honoring veterans and active duty military personnel were also held at St. Anthony School, Sacred Heart School and Central Grade School.

Below are photo's from St. Anthony Grade School veteran's ceremony.

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