By Patricia Beech-
Adams County schools celebrated Veterans Day 2018 with ceremonies recognizing the service and sacrifice of local men and women who have served in America’s armed forces.
While Veterans Day is always a special day of remembrance, this year it has the added distinction of being the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.
One of the deadliest conflicts in human history, WWI caused more than 17 million casualties, military and civilian, before it was ended in a cease fire agreement between the Allies and Germany on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month of 1918.
First officially recognized in 1919, Armistice Day is still observed by people around the world who stop for a moment of silence at the 11th hour on Nov. 11.
To mark the 100th anniversary, WWI was chosen as the theme for a Veterans Day celebration at Peebles High School on Thursday, Nov. 8.
Eighth grade teacher and event organizer, Kristen Smalley, said the Veterans Day ceremonies at area schools help to convey an important civic message to students.
“Most of us will never serve in the military ourselves,” Smalley said. “Events like this allow us to teach kids how important it is to honor veterans and to show our gratitude for all they’ve done, and continue to do for us.”
North Adams Elementary also took a student-centered approach in designing their Veterans Day program on Friday morning, Nov. 9.
According to NAES Principal Deidre Mills, organizers were hoping to make the event more kid-friendly.
“Sometimes it’s harder for the younger children to understand the concept of service to your country, and it can be equally difficult for them to relate to guest speakers,” said Mills. “Because of that, we decided to have a lot more student participation this year – students will do the “White Table Ceremony” and they’ll all be singing patriotic songs for the veterans.”
Local veterans participating at North Adams High School said the Veterans Day ceremony was a valuable tool for teaching students to honor those who serve.
“Maybe it gives them the idea that freedom’s not free,” said Navy veteran Marty Grooms, who served on the river gunboats in Vietnam. “This program put on by the school helps remind us that freedom’s something we fought to have and something that we fight to keep.”
Greg Coulson, a veteran of both the Navy and the Army who served in Desert Storm, said the Veterans Day ceremonies establish a link between the past and the present.
“Freedom is something that’s transitional it has to go from generation to generation,” Coulson says. “It means a lot when high schools work to connect those who have served with those who have not because that connection helps students understand the sacrifices others have made for them.”
Observances were also held on Friday at the Adams County Christian School, where First Sergeant Josh Combs was the guest speaker. Also, West Union High School and Elementary hosted Friday programs, where Dr. Matthew Armstrong, Major Air Force Ready Reserve, was the high school’s guest speaker in a program that included numerous student speakers, choir performances, and the Liberty Band.
At Manchester, retired naval officer, Master Chief James Sandlin, was the featured speaker and spoke to the students on the topic of “gratitude.”
“The freedoms that we have here in America are because of the veterans like those here today and those who have served all over the world previously and today,” said Sandlin.
“They fought for our freedoms and for that I am eternally grateful.”
