Patriotic flair: Tidioute seniors honor service during Veterans Day program
Tidioute seniors honor service during Veterans Day program
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Tidioute Community Charter School (TCCS) students and staff welcomed local veterans to the school’s annual Veterans Day program, taking time to recognize and thank the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.
The program opened with scouts members presenting the American flags. Those in attendance then stood for the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the national anthem performed by the TCCS choir.
Students also shared the history and significance of Veterans Day. Senior Gabby Lindsay explained the holiday's origin as Armistice Day, commemorating the end of fighting in World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. In 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially changed the holiday’s name to Veterans Day to honor all American veterans.
The program included recognition of veterans in attendance, who were invited to stand and receive appreciation for their service.
Guest speaker Army veteran Sgt. Jim Wenzel shared his experiences serving in the military and discussed the sacrifices veterans make for their country.
Wenzel shared his story of enlisting in the Army and later attended airborne school before serving in South Korea and at Fort Hood, Texas.
During his service, Wenzel was deployed to Iraq, where he spent eight and a half months before being wounded.
Wenzel spoke candidly about the difficult recovery that followed, explaining that he spent approximately a year and a half relearning how to walk and adjusting to life after his injuries.
Wenzel encouraged students to remember the sacrifices made by veterans throughout the nation’s history and to appreciate the freedoms those sacrifices have helped protect.
Wenzel also reminded those in attendance that two local service members are currently deployed, encouraging the community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers.
Another highlight of the program featured poetry written by fifth- and sixth-grade students. Their poems were submitted to the senior class, which selected three winners from each grade to share their work during the assembly.
Students from TCCS in grades kindergarten through grade 12 attended the assembly.
The program was organized by members of the TCCS senior class, with guidance from social studies teacher Joni Schettler. Senior students helped coordinate the event, assign responsibilities, prepare decorations and programs and select the featured speaker.
Veterans in attendance were invited to join the senior class for refreshments following the assembly.
According to the senior organizers, preparations began approximately two weeks before Veterans Day. Members of the senior class volunteered for different responsibilities and worked together to bring the program to completion.
The students said they made an effort to select a speaker with a personal connection to the class and local community, allowing students to hear firsthand experiences from someone who has served.
They also emphasized the importance of introducing younger students to the meaning of Veterans Day.
"Being a K-12 school, it's important that the younger kids know about this and are exposed to it early, ” said senior Maddy Warham.
The seniors said they believe veterans deserve recognition for the physical and personal challenges they face while serving, as well as the sacrifices they make for others.
"I feel like while they are serving, they don't really get the acknowledgement they deserve, so they should be recognized for their sacrifices and what they have been through," said Lindsay.
They added that the annual program is a way for the school community to demonstrate its appreciation and show veterans that their service has not been forgotten.
"It really shows veterans that we are here for them and that we remember what they have done for us," said senior Lainey DeVore. "I think it's cool that our school does this because a lot of other places don't."