Students, communities mark Veterans Day

School children, veterans, and other area residents took time Wednesday to honor the nation’s military veterans on Veterans Day.

Twenty-two veterans were honored at the annual Veterans Day assembly at Paton-Churdan. John Lonergan, adjutant of American Legion Post 198, made remarks. “We’re here today to honor our service members and to remember the sacrifices that they made and the courage it takes to defend duty, honor and country. The service members we honor today came from all walks of life, but they shared several fundamental qualities. They possess courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity, all the qualities to serve a cause larger than oneself,” Longergan. “They didn’t go to war because they loved to fight…. They’re ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. They rose to the nation’s call because they wanted to protect a nation that had given them so much.”

P-C vets, Hunter, CurtisThere were two World War Two veterans present – Army veteran Clair Hunter, age 94-1/2 (center), and Navy veteran Ivan Curtis, age 91-1/2 (right). Lonergan (left) presented both with certificates for decades of membership in the American Legion. Hunter has been a member for 67 years and Curtis has been a member for 39 years.

He also named World War Two veterans Duane Young, Don McCormick and Vince Monaghan who were not able to attend the program. Three empty chairs commemorated veterans Eugene Vogel, Donald Fay and Edward Sabus, all of whom has died since Veterans Day 2014.

Lonergan also mentioned a fundraiser to replace the 136 flags and poles in the Memorial Day Avenues of Flags at the Highland Township Cemetery and St Patrick Cemetery in Cedar Township. Donations can be sent to Lonergan or post commander Duane Towers.

P-C veterans 4th to familiesAll students in kindergarten through fourth grade, and the high school student council and high school choir had parts in the program. The student council presented all the veterans yellow carnations; fourth graders gave candy to the wives and family members of veterans.

Senior Noah Juergensen told of his experience at Boys’ State last summer and thanked the Legion for the opportunity. Amanda Helms was soloist with Renaye Lindgren accompanying.

Principal Annie Smith invited the veterans to come back Tuesday, Dec. 1, for a veterans salute at the Rockets’ basketball home opener. She said veterans from the Rockets’ opponents, Elk Horn-Kimballton, will also be invited.

Students at Greene County Intermediate School in Grand Junction had a Veterans Day assembly in the afternoon.

Veterans GCIS poemMembers of Boy Scout Troop 534 provided the color guard. After watching a short video highlighting the songs of each branch of the military students (from left) Emma Rosenow, Chad Maston, Ashlynn Hinners, Natalie Heupel and Isabella Schroeder read a poem.

 

Third graders (from left) Lucian MacGregor, AJ Blasnitz and Harley Smith listen intently to Bob Glenn.
Third graders (from left) Lucian White, AJ Blasnitz and Harley Smith listen intently to Bob Glenn.

Special guest speaker was Bob Glenn, a Korean War veteran, who traveled to Washington, DC, on an Honor Flight Sept. 19. He told of the welcome the veterans received at Dulles Airport. “I never saw so many small American flags in my life and people thanking us for our service,” he said.

He finished his talk sharing with the students a teddy bear dressed in military fatigues singing Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” Veterans GCIS group

 

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