Air Force Veteran Chuck Warner salutes and stands with
the assistance of his wife when the Air Force anthem is played by the
Exeter-Milligan band at the Veteran’s Day program in Exeter.
Exeter-Milligan honored area veteran’s on Monday, November
11 with rolls and coffee hosted by the National Honor Society members prior to
a very special program.
The audience was welcomed to the program by Student Council
president Kayla Geiger.
Deacon Erdkamp, a member of Cub Scout Pack 218 led the flag
ceremony and the pledge of allegiance with other pack members providing the
color guard.
The Junior High/Senior High band played the “Star-Spangled
Banner” and the Junior High choir sang “We Honor You.”
Together the Junior/Senior High choir sang “Pie Jesu” and
the Senior High choir sang “Brother, My Brother.”
Mrs. Denice Kovanda introduced the speaker, Mr. Jeff
Johnson.
Johnson gave a brief history of Veteran’s day. He
noted that it began as Armistice Day honoring the 11th day of the 11th
month at the 11th hour when the armistice was signed, but in order
to honor all war veterans the name was changed.
As a college student at a land grant college in Arizona,
Johnson was required to be a part of the military and joined the Navy
reserves. In 1966 he was called to active duty and stationed in Coronado,
Calif. He headed to the western Pacific theatre where he served two tours
of duty in Vietnam.
His duty was on a ship providing air support off the coast
of Vietnam.
He commented, “This was no
‘tour’ so I don't know where the word came from. The casualties were brought
back to the ship. I saw first-hand what sacrifice looked like.”
When he returned stateside in
1969 he came back to “a conflicted world, some with anger. To quote
Forrest Gump, ‘That’s all I’m going to say about that.’”
He ended his speech by
expressing his appreciation for celebrations like the Exeter-Milligan program
and reminded students, “Don’t forget the soldiers who fought to give you
freedom. Carry on, and that’s an order.”
The Exeter-Milligan band played “Nathan Hale Triology” before recognizing each
branch of service during the playing of “America’s Finest.” Veterans in
the audience were asked to stand as their anthem played and the audience
recognized them with applause.
The program was closed by Student Council Vice President
Anna Sluka.
Above– Veteran’s Chuck Warner (left) and Larry Cudaback
(right) enjoy rolls and coffee hosted by the National Honor Society at
Exeter-Milligan.
Below – Veteran’s and their wives gathered at the
Exeter-Milligan cafeteria to enjoy rolls and coffee hosted by the National
Honor Society at Exeter-Milligan.
Above- Cub Scout Axel Erdkamp, left, serves as the honor guard
as Levi Jurgensen prepares to post the colors at the Exeter-Milligan Veteran’s
Day program.
Below – Exeter-Milligan junior high choir performed “We Honor
You” at the Exeter-Milligan Veteran’s Day program.
Above – Exeter-Milligan choir performed “Brother, My Brother” at
the Exeter-Milligan Veteran’s Day program. Pictured from the left are
Morgan White, Caitlin Murphy, Jozie Kanode, Briana Capek and Blake Meyer.
Below - Exeter-Milligan jr high and high school choir perform together.
Above – Exeter-Milligan Veteran’s Day program guest speaker Jeff
Johnson.
Below – Army veteran’s stand and are applauded while the
Exeter-Milligan band plays “The Army Goes Marching Along.”
