By Dave Stafford, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer
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.
