North Greene Veteran’s Day Program
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Janden Kuykendall, center, sings the Star Spangled Banner in front of the American flag during the North Greene High School Veteran’s Day Program. Joining Kuykendall on the stage are: Madie Magelitz, on the left, and Bailey Berry in the back. (Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press)
By Carmen Ensinger
The North Greene National Honor Society presented their Veteran’s Day Ceremony to honor our nation’s veterans on Wednesday, Nov. 10.
National Honor Society President Madie Magelitz gave the welcome explaining the origin of Veteran’s Day.
“On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the fighting of World War I ended in 1918,” Magelitz said. “Due to the conclusion of ‘the war to end all wars’, Nov. 11 became a universally recognized day of celebration.”
The day was originally declared as Armistice Day eight years after the conclusion of World War I and honored only veterans of that war.
“Then, in 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, it was renamed Veteran’s Day to honor all veterans who served America in war and defended democracy,” Magelitz said. “So today, we honor all of our veterans who unselfishly placed their lives on the line for our freedom.”
Veteran’s Day Ceremony Chairperson Jenna Barnard explained what a veteran is.
“Veterans are recognized as men and women who have or are serving in America’s armed forces,” she said. “Veteran’s Days is a celebration to honor all of America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. It is also a day for reflection and remembering.”
Whether they wear the uniform today or wore it decades ago, the veteran represents a fundamental truth.
“It’s not the powerful weapons that make our military the greatest in the world and its not the sophisticated aircraft, missiles, rockets, satellites and cyber technology that make us the most advanced,” Barnard said. “The true strength of our military is the spirit and skill of our service men and women and the true strength of all of our armed forces is seen in the men and women who have worn and now wear the uniform of our nation’s military.”
Each of the different branches of the military were then introduced and veterans from those branches were asked to stand when their branch was called.
The members of the FFA presented a flag folding ceremony denoting what each fold of the flag stood for.
Several members of the National Honor Society read poems about Veteran’s Day. Rhiannon Hazelwonder recited the Veteran’s Day Poem; Bailey Berry read They Did Their Share; Emma Heberling read The Noble and the Brave and Kailyn Hoesman gave the closing reading.
Prior to the beginning of the ceremony, Janden Kuykendall gave a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner. The processional of flags was made by Taylor Gilmore and Delanie Teno.
