Past, present and future veterans were in attendance Wednesday at the Vilonia Middle School for a ceremony and the dedication of an outdoor garden classroom.
Sponsored by the Academy of Service and Technology, students presented a program inside the gymnasium honoring veterans including patriotic songs, skits, the playing of taps and guest speakers. One speaker, W.K. Manning, a Marine veteran and a former superintendent of the Vilonia School District, told the students that he had been touched by the program.
“All of you have touched my heart,” he said, looking around the room. He shared a bit about his military service including that he had entered the Marines one year out of high school. He arrived via ship in Guam May 15, 1945, he said, serving there nine months in preparation for the invasion of Japan. The atomic bomb was dropped resulting in the end of World War II in August 1945.
“God blessed me by never letting me face combat,” Manning shared. However, he said, he was involved with disarming and taking Japanese prisoners of war. Some of the prisoners, he told the students, were tried for cannibalism and ultimately convicted and hung. That, he said, he didn’t know until recent years.
“That is about the extent of my military service,” he said. He then encouraged the students to look to a group of VIPs sitting on the sidelines some of whom were dressed in current military uniforms.
“Look around you,” he said. “We stand today in the presence of past, present and future veterans. I am honored.”
The program began with Pack 444 Webelo’s Den 8 presenting the flags followed by the Pledge to the Allegiance. VAST fifth graders performed The Star Spangled Banner, God Bless America, You Are Our Heroes and a skit entitled Who Are Veterans as well as shared the origins of Veteran’s Day.
Also, VAST teacher David Garrett sang the officials songs of the military branches. As each sounded, members of the audience, sitting in the VIP section, were asked to stand supporting their particular branch. Eleven people stood during the Army song, six during the Coast Guard/Navy, six during the Air Force and three during the Marine song. Some stood representative of serving in more than one branch of the military.
The indoor portion of the program ended with the playing of Taps by Spencer Bradshaw, a Vilonia High School student, followed by a moment of silence.
Filing out of the gymnasium, attendees passed by a table topped with photos of several veterans--sons, daughters, fathers, brothers and sisters of both students and staff. There was an obituary of the father of fifth grader Nichole Lee. Her dad, she said, served in Desert Storm. He died, she said, after he was honorably discharged from the military and when she was just six.
“I felt like he was here today,” she said. “I still miss him.”
Moving to the front of the school, there was a dedication of an outdoor garden classroom and the unveiling of a marker designating it was placed in honor of all veterans. Veteran L.A. Loetscher served as the recipient representing veterans of all military branches.
Serving in Vietnam, he said he was “blessed to come home in 1967. A lot of my buddies didn’t come home.”
In conclusion, he asked the audience to support President Barrack Obama no matter their political affiliations.
“My heart is heavy for our country,” he said. “Our country is in turmoil. I would ask you to lift up the president and support him. Pray for him.”
Loetscher also thanked the school for providing him with the honor of being the recipient. And, he thanked members of the audience who were in uniform and continue to serve.
Principal Cathy Riggins ended the event by thanking the veterans also for their service. As well, she thanked Master Gardener Mary Wells, a volunteer at the school, who helped to create the garden.
