Friday, November 15, 2019

Exeter-Milligan Veteran's Day Program



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.”

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Sons of the Legion host flag retirement and meal for Veteran's Day


Boy Scout Ben Bartu (left) and Cub Scout Richard Hickman pick up flags folded and ready to be retired during the ceremony on Saturday evening in Exeter.


Saturday evening the Exeter Post 218 Sons of the Legion honored Veteran’s with an evening which included flag retirement, a meal and a band.

The program began at 5 p.m. with Boy Scout Troop 218 conducting a flag retirement.  After retiring 40 flags the audience returned to the Legion for the meal and band.

Boy Scouts Mikey Bartu and Ben Bartu were assisted by Webelos Scout Richard Hickman of Pack 218.  The scouts continued to retire the cotton flags (over 100) and monitored the fire until it went out.  The grommets were sorted out of the ashes and will be buried.

Flag retirement information:

The US Flag Code states “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” (Section 176 k).

The flag code gives no specific guidance for new fabrics such as nylon, which when burned, give off toxic fumes.  One organization began to accept damaged nylon flags so that they could be recycled into new nylon material, but that program is not available right now.  Two current options for retiring nylon flags include cutting up the flag in a respectful manner or burying the flag.


From the left, Boy Scouts Ben Bartu and Mikey Bartu and Webelos Scout Richard Hickman salute as the flags are respectfully retired during the ceremony in Exeter on Saturday evening.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Exeter-Milligan Update: One Act


Exeter-Milligan One-Act Play
By Valerie Barnhart

The Exeter-Milligan One Act cast and crew are preparing for their upcoming conference and district performances. The play is called “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” by Don Zolidis and published by Playscripts. It is a comedy including fairytales.  Performing in the play are Clint Oldehoeft as Narrator and Hansel, Daisy Kanode as Narrator, Jaiden Papik as Girl, Prince 2, Cinderella, Braden Capek as Actor, Prince, Prine Charming, Emma Olsen as Actor, Rapunzel, Witch, Wicked Stepmother, Cameran Jansky as Dirt Merchant, Gretel, Stepsisters, Jozie Kanode as Rumpelstiltskin, Dwarf 1, Doctor, Birds,  Morgan White as Enchantress, Devil’s Grandmother, Witch, Birds, Wesley Ronne as Devil, Dwarf 2, Herald, and Cammie Harrison  as Snow White.  

They performed at the York One-Act Play Festival on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019.  The next performance is at CRC competition on Nov. 20, 2019 at Shickley High School. District competition will be held at Shickley High School on December 3, 2019.  

In the photo sitting on stage from left to right are (back row) Madison Luzum, Cammie Harrison, Clint Oldehoeft, Braden Capek, Emma Olsen, (front row) Jozie Kanode, Jaiden Papik, Cameran Jansky, and Daisy Kanode.  Not pictured are Morgan White, Wesley Ronne, Blake Meyer, Ben Bartu, and Kiah Songster.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Exeter Blood drive surpasses goal


The Red Cross Blood Drive held in Exeter on October 30th at the Exeter American Legion.  Blood drive director Barb Jansen was thrilled with the results, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I can’t tell you how happy I was after Exeter’s Blood. I say thank you to the 49 people that came and gave their blood of life. Just in the last 4-5 months I found that 4 people in our community needed blood transfusions. What if there was no blood on the Hospital shelves, those people may not be here today!”

Jansen reported that they surpassed our goal of 37 but ten pints.  They had seven walk in donors and four power red donors.  The United Methodist Women served the lunch with Janice Miller, Evelyn Michl, Pat Sudrla and Marilyn Anderson serving in the canteen.

The next blood drive will be in Fairmont on December 27 from 12 - 6.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Exeter-Milligan Update: Murphy selected for Nebraska All-State Band

Each year, approximately 3,000 of the best high school musicians in the state audition for the Nebraska All-State Band, Chorus, Jazz Band and Orchestra which are sponsored by the Nebraska Music Education Association.  Selection as a member of one of these groups is one of the highest music honors attainable in Nebraska. Mr. Matthew Rom, Director of Band Affairs for the Nebraska Music Education Association, is pleased to announce that Caitlin Murphy, a senior French horn player from Exeter-Milligan, is among the 160 students selected to be a part of the 2019 All-State Band. Guest conductor for the group will be Colonel Jason Fettig, Director of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. The All-State Band will rehearse Thursday, November 21st through Saturday, November 23rd on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus, the host site of the 2019 NMEA Conference/ Clinic. A final public concert will be held on Saturday, November 23rd at the Lied Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.