The Herald Bulletin

Morning Update

Breaking News

November 12, 2009

Area schools honor, celebrate veterans

70 veterans take seats of honor in Alex

ALEXANDRIA — When an Alexandria student approached John Wilson and Neal Johnson, he reached out to shake their hands and said, “I just want to personally thank you for all you’ve done for our country.”

He told the veterans that stories he’d heard during a holiday observation at the school on Wednesday inspired him to become a Marine someday. Johnson, a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, took off his hat to the young man.

“Now you’ve got a Navy hat,” Johnson said, placing his ball cap on the head of the young man, who said a quick thanks and dashed down the hall of Alexandria High School.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Johnson said.

Johnson and Wilson were among more than 70 veterans who took seats of honor in the Alexandria-Monroe High School gym on Veterans Day, celebrated by the school system’s more than 1,500 students.

“It was beautiful, outstanding,” said Master Sgt. Theresa Collins. A 22-year active duty member of the Air Force, Collins came home to Alexandria dressed in fatigues for the event at the invitation of her niece, an Alexandria student.

“It brings me a lot of emotion,” said Collins, who said her father and grandfather had served in wartime, as had uncles — one of whom died during the invasion of Normandy.

“It was fantastic and very, very respectful,” she said of Alexandria’s program of patriotic music and performances from students from second grade through high school. “I hope they continue to do it every year.”

Veterans had down-front seats as the pom-pom-waving second-grade class performed a medley of “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “This Land is Your Land.” The program included performances by the Alexandria High School band, intermediate and high school choirs and a dramatic reading by drama and student council members.

Students waved miniature flags and sang along as an all-school choir performed “God Bless the U.S.A.”

In between, Alexandria Elementary School Principal Scott Deetz read the names of veterans who attended the program.

“These are the veterans of Alexandria,” he said. “Please give them a big round of applause.”

The students obliged with a prolonged standing ovation.

Wilson, an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict, said he was impressed with the program and the respectfulness of students who attended.

“It makes us feel very important,” he said.

Alexandria’s Veterans Day program was one of many observations in schools around the area.

At Erskine Elementary School in Anderson, students gathered outside and chanted “Shoot the tank! Shoot the tank!” The tank in this case was a 1962 M114 armored command and reconnaissance carrier of the type used in Vietnam and in Europe during the Cold War. It was on loan to the school for Veterans Day from McClain’s Military Museum in Anderson.

John Krieg, McClain’s facilities manager, thrilled the students by firing some simulated rounds.

“I spent three-and-a-half years putting this together,” Krieg said of the armored vehicle, which he explained has a special connection to Anderson.

The lighting system for the M114 was manufactured by Guide Lamp, and its charging system was made by Delco-Remy, Krieg said.

Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com



Veterans book going fast

A few copies remain of “A Tribute of Our Troops: Veterans of Madison County, A Pictorial History.” The 128-page book, published recently by The Herald Bulletin, features photos of local military veterans from the Civil War through present day. The book can be purchased for $39.95 plus tax at the customer-service counter of The Herald Bulletin, 1133 Jackson St., Anderson. Call 622-1212 for more information.

Text Only
Breaking News
More from The Herald Bulletin
AP Video
Top Bargainers Announce Payroll Tax Cut Deal Student Photos 'hijacked', Used on Porn Site Should U.S. Arm Medevacs in Afghanistan? Foreclosures Rise Only Slightly, More Expected Old Friends, New Mission: China VP Visits Iowa Jeremy Lin a Slam-dunk for Knicks and Fans Defense Begins in UVA Player Murder Trial More Than 350 Die in Honduran Prison Fire Defiant Iran Loads Own Fuel Rods Into Reactor Raw Video: Syrian Army, Rebels Battle in Homs Video Essay: Saving the Miami Blue Butterfly NYPD Officer Shot During Subway Confrontation Iranian Boats Shadow US Aircraft Carrier in Gulf Hundreds Rally Against Alabama Immigration Law Whitney Houston Funeral to Be Invitation Only New Details in Search for Missing Utah Mom Raw Video: Protesters, Security Clash in Bahrain School Pays Students to Attend Class Trial Opens for Ala. Man in Bride's Diving Death Baltimore's 'Crime Stopper' Is a Basketball Star
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Popular Searches
Powered by Local.com
Helium debate
Helium
Front page
Poll

Have you participated in any events related to Black History Month in February?

Yes
No
Unaware that it's Black History Month
     View Results