Veterans Day Celebrated at Worth County

Worth County marked its annual Veteran’s Day Program Friday afternoon. The other three schools that make up the Sheridan Express coverage area, North Harrison, North Nodaway, and NEN, put on similar programs.

The Grant City VFW Post 3123 presented the colors and the Worth County Band played the Star Spangled Banner. The Kindergarten Class led the rest of the student body and public in the Pledge of Allegiance. The band did the tribute to all the branches of the Armed Services.

Bob Hull introduced essay finalists for the Patriot’s Pen. They were Calli Mancuso and Tanner Ridge, both of whom read their essays. The theme was on “America’s Gift to My Generation.”

The Worth County Speech Class put together a video for the event. They did video footage of local students describing veterans; some answers were hilarious. They interviewed some older students along with Principal Jon Adwell as well. “Without veterans, we would not have free public education,” he said. Students Tevin Cameron and Dallas Steele shared poems about veterans and Ian Hargrave interviewed his mother, Lisa Hargrave, about her time in the U.S. Navy. She served in Hawaii; she encouraged people to write letters to soldiers, since they frequently do not always have access to the outside world. Students Drew Martell and Rilee Rush showed posters in the hall saluting active service members as well as people no longer living who had served in the Armed Forces.

Jeremy Wimer sang, “Letters from Home” about a mother who wrote to her son in the service.

Following that, Bob Hull introduced essay finalists for the Voice of Democracy. Students Lauren Moore and Merrideth Spiers wrote the top two essays. Lauren Moore wrote a story about a soldier whose unit died in combat, but who survived to tell the story. Spiers wrote about seeing the Statue of Liberty in New York City when she was six years old.

More musical talent was next. The newly-formed Junior High Choir sang “You’re a Hero in this Place.” The After School Choir sang, “Thank You, Soldiers.” Principal Jon Adwell had the crowd stand and applaud all the branches of the Armed Forces.

The Worth County Small Ensemble of Keelin Engel, Justina Wimer, Lauren Moore, Jeremy Wimer, and Merrideth Spiers sang “In Flanders Fields” in perfect harmony. Jeremy Wimer and Aivry Griffin played “Taps.” Trenton Gabriel sang, “If You’re Reading This,” about a letter from a soldier opened after he was killed in action. Jeremy Wimer played “To the Colors” as the colors were ceremonially removed at the end of the presentation.

A reception was held in the School Cafeteria for veterans and the public, prepared by the Worth County Food Class. State Representative Allen Andrews gave a brief talk thanking veterans for their service. “There are over 500,000 veterans in our state, and we want to do all we can to help you out,” he said. He quoted Ronald Reagan, who said, “Freedom is just one generation from extinction.”