Hurrahs from Hanna honors

HEM NHS holds well-attended veterans breakfast with color guard and speakers

Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School was the site for the Eighth Annual National Honor Society (NHS) Veterans Celebration that started at 8 a.m. on Friday morning. The celebration started with a hearty breakfast of pancakes, biscuits and gravy, fruit and other morning-oriented edibles and beverages.

The attendees numbered close to 200 before the Hanna Elementary students joined the celebration at approximately 8:45 a.m.

HEM senior Cloe Olsen started the program by welcoming all and the Air Force Color Guard marched with rifles and flags from the back of the room through the main aisle to the front.

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the HEM band played the National Anthem.

There were three guest speakers, one a vet and two currently in the military.

Rex Rudd, a vet residing in Medicine Bow, read a story about how a little boy had written a thank you letter to a random soldier. This soldier saved the letter because it got him through tough times in the military. Later the soldier became sheriff of a small town in Wisconsin and, by a strange coincidence, the boy had become one of his deputies. Rudd wanted to impart on the students that letters to service members matter and are appreciated.

Sergeant First Class Travis Ayers, Army National Guard, spoke next. He told of his experiences of serving around the world.

"You don't serve for the money or benefits, you do it for love of country," Ayers said. He said he was from a small town in Nebraska and appreciated the warm welcome the attendees were giving him and the veterans.

"It really is special and it isn't something we in the uniform forget," Ayers said. "Your support is exactly why we serve."

Air Force Captain James Lombay, was the last guest speaker. Like Ayers, he said the crowd was impressive.

"When you say the Pledge of Allegiance, know words matter," Lombay said. "You are pledging allegiance to the ideas for what the flag stands for. Don't take that lightly."

He said when your hand is over the heart, it means you understand what has been fought for in the past and what will be fought over in the future."

All three speakers were given strong applause after they spoke.

The NHS presented a video on commemorating veterans' service, the HEM band and choir sang salutes to the different services and winners of different contests were announced. Posters, artwork and essays on veterans was the subject matter for the competitions.

Taps by two trumpets, the benediction and retiring the colors indicated the celebration was coming to an end.

Taylee Widdison, HEM senior, said the closing.

As attendees left, many could be heard saying how much they enjoyed the celebration put on by NHS.

 

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