Tecumseh Local School District Students Hold Veterans Day Programs

By: Charidy Murphy and Elaine Estes

A thick fog provided the backdrop to Tecumseh High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training

Corps’ (AFJROTC) early morning Veterans Day Flag Raising ceremony at Tecumseh High School on Nov.

11, 2015. After the raising of the colors, AFJROTC advisors, Major Doug Couch and Master Sergeant

Antonio Ruiz, spoke to students and guests about the history of Veterans Day and how the contributions

and sacrifices made by U.S. veterans and their families make freedom possible in the United States.

AFJROTC members then presented each Veteran with a gift and led other guests in personally thanking

each Veteran for their service.

Before attending the reception following the Flag Raising ceremony, Air Force veteran, Mrs. Ruth Keller,

commented how much she valued the appreciation shown by the AFJROTC students. In speaking of Mrs.

Keller, sophomore and AFJROTC member, Miss Jessica Perkins, remarked, “It means a lot to know she

and the other veterans are here and support us. She is a role model for me because I know I will be

going into the Air Force when I’m older.” Major Couch and MSgt. Ruiz noted how Veterans Day

programs are important because they “honor the service of our veterans” and “instill gratitude, a link to

history, and a sense of pride in military service for AFJROTC students.”

Tecumseh Middle School’s Veteran’s Day program began with the AFJROTC Color Guard’s Presentation

of Colors ceremony and a video featuring the photos and service information of U.S. veterans provided

by middle school students. Students and guests then enthusiastically welcomed keynote speaker, Mr.

John Priest, who is both a Marine Veteran and Tecumseh High School Graduate. Mr. Priest spoke about

his military career and the importance of always taking pride in one’s self. The program was brought to a

close by Tecumseh Middle School’s Sixth Grade Choir singing a medley of U.S. Armed Forces songs;

veterans were invited to stand during the theme representing their branch of service. WWII veteran, Mr.

Dewey Brosey, commented afterwards how moved he was by the program, “Everything they did

brought back a lot of memories…a whole lot of memories. It’s really important to have this program too,

because kids need to know what happened a long time ago.”

Tecumseh Local School District's Elementary schools also held Veterans Day programs.

Park Layne Elementary school’s program sought to “honor all who have served our great country.”

Principal Karyl Strader welcomed veterans, students, and community members before speaking to

kindergartners and first graders about the importance of Veterans Day. The New Carlisle Community

Chorus led attendees in singing “The Star Spangled Banner” before performing “I’m a Yankee Doodle

Dandy.” Park Layne Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. McBride, surprised students when she spoke about her

“other job” as SSG Angie McBride of the Army National Guard. SSG McBride also told students of her

love of the USA and reminded the children to not take an education for granted. Park Layne’s first

graders sang “America” before the program concluded with a video entitled “Thank you, Veterans!”

At Donnelsville Elementary, veterans enjoyed a short reception before joining students and community

members to watch the AFJROTC Color Guard open the formal program with the Presentation of Colors.

Veterans were gifted with homemade placemats created by Donnelsville students. Students sang a

medley of Armed Forces songs and invited veterans to stand during the theme representing their branch

of service. The program ended after third graders took turns reading aloud the letters and poems they

wrote expressing gratitude to the veterans for their service. Veterans were invited to stay afterwards

and visit classrooms in order to answer students’ questions about their military service and to read

patriotic and military-themed stories to the children.

New Carlisle Elementary opened its Veterans Day celebration with a reception where students and

veterans enjoyed refreshments together and took group photos. The formal program began with the

Presentation of Colors ceremony performed by the Tecumseh AFJROTC Color Guard. Students sang “God

Bless the USA” and two student speakers presented “What It Means to Be a Veteran.” New Carlisle

Elementary School’s program ended with the Armed Forces Medley, during which veterans were invited

to stand during the theme representing their branch of service.

Tecumseh AFJROTC members perform an early morning Flag Raising Ceremony in honor of Veterans

Day. (Photo—Charidy Murphy)

Tecumseh High school AFJROTC members begin an early morning Flag Raising ceremony in honor of

Veterans Day. (Photo—Charidy Murphy)

Tecumseh AFJROTC members personally thank Mrs. Ruth Keller and other veterans for their service

following Tecumseh High School’s Veterans Day ceremony (Photo—Charidy Murphy)

U.S. Marine veteran and Tecumseh High School graduate, Mr. John Priest, was the keynote speaker at

Tecumseh Middle School’s Veterans Day program (Photo—Charidy Murphy)

The Tecumseh Middle School Sixth Grade Choir sings at the school’s Veterans Day program

(Photo—Charidy Murphy)

Third graders at Donnelsville Elementary read letters and poems they wrote thanking veterans for their

service to the U.S.A. (Photo—Charidy Murphy)

A veteran shows Donnelsville students all of the places he traveled to while in the military (Photo –

Charidy Murphy)

Veterans were invited to read stories to Donnelsville Elementary students and answer questions about

their military service (Photo—Charidy Murphy)

Students at New Carlisle Elementary invited veterans to join them for refreshments and group photos

before the school’s Veterans Day program (Photos—Elaine Estes)

Veterans at Park Layne Elementary were invited to share the branch of the military where they served

and the dates of their military service (Photo—Elaine Estes)

Park Layne Kindergarten teacher, SSG Angie McBride speaks to students about her “other job” in the

Army National Guard (Photo—Elaine Estes)