The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
West Central Middle School observed Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 10, 2010.
The students started learning about Veterans Day the week before in many of their classes. It became an all school cross-curricular project.
This year the 7th and 8th grade Language Arts students wrote and submitted essays for the Patriot's Pen Essay Contest. It is a youth-essay writing contest endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals' and is a nationwide competition that gives students in grades 6, 7, and 8 the opportunity to write essays expressing their views on democracy.
The 2010-2011 Theme is "Does Patriotism Still Matter?" The auxiliary chapter of the Monmouth VFW is our local sponsor. These experiences enabled our student to better understand the sacrifices made daily to provide us with the freedom we enjoy today.
The Henderson County American Legion Post #765 members opened the program by presenting the colors. Mrs. Joanne Hilligoss and the middle school chorus led the audience in the singing of our national anthem.
Maddy Cooper, Student Council President, welcomed everyone to the program. The West Central Middle School scouts led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Nichols, principal, told our guests what the students had been doing the week before to prepare for Veterans Day.
We were honored this year to have ROE Superintendent, Jodi Scott and Monmouth Attorney, David Reed Clark in attendance. "Welcome to another outstanding day of freedom in America brought to you courtesy of the men and women of our Armed Forces of our United States of America." said David Clark, who was a corporal with the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967.
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they ever made a difference in this world. American veterans don't have that problem."
Logan Torrance, Student Council Vice-President, introduced a video presentation entitled, "Veterans Day, November 11."
The middle school chorus under the direction of Mrs. Joanne Hilligoss sang "America" by John Higgins and the middle school band under the direction of Mr. Matt Henning played "Colonial Spirit" by Andrew Balent. Maddy Cooper introduced Dakota Parks and Logan Torrance who read their Patriot's Pen Essays. Logan Torrance, student council vice-president read "The Story of Taps." Justin Alberts then played Taps and the American Legion Post #765 retired the colors.
Several of our 8th grade students portrayed soldiers from WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, and Iraq War by wearing uniforms donated from the Henderson County Museum.
The 8th grade classes study the different wars and then make wall displays for the program with the respective soldier standing next to his or her display.
This was our 5th Annual Veterans Day program.
The student council sponsored a drawing again this year by giving away 2 patriotic blankets.
After the program, everyone was invited down to the cafeteria for an informal reception.
From left to right, Drake Hays, Casey Garber, Caleb Dowell, Brett Mowder, Regan Bowman, Nick Craig, Shady Hartman, Josh Strader, and Justin Alberts
West Central Middle School student, Justin Alberts of rural Carman, plays taps to close the moving Veterans Day Ceremony his teachers and fellow students held November 10th.
David Reed Clark
U.S. Marine Corp, Retired
Attorney At Law, Monmouth
was main speaker for a very special cermony put on by WC Middle School in honor of Veterans, November 10.
Logan Torrance, Student Council Vice president, Maddy Cooper Student Council President