At around 1:30 on Friday, November 9th, The Nemaha Central Middle School hosted a Veterans Day Celebration for our Veterans. Along with the Nemaha Central Elementary School, this year was the first year that Saints Peters and Paul joined us as we hosted our celebration in the Nemaha Central High School. We were happy to see everyone join us to celebrate the service.
To start off the event the color guard presentation led the veterans into the main gym as all of our veterans sat down in the center of the gym. Jayla Nolte had sung the Star Spangled Banner with her beautiful voice. Following, Ella Sourk recited The Pledge of Allegiance.
Alan Mueting had led us in a prayer, hoping to keep our veterans safe, mourning for the ones we lost, and thanking them for their service.
Clare Wullschleger introduced the Army, saying “The United States Army was created on June 14, 1775, so technically it is older than our country. The mission of the Army is to deploy, fight, and win our Nation's wars by providing ready, prompt, and sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the Joint Force. There are over 1.15 million men and women that are on Active Duty, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve.” Nemaha Central Elementary Kids sang us a beautiful song about the Army.
Lilly Leis Introduces the Navy, saying “The United States Navy was created on Oct. 13, 1775. The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train, and equip combat-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas. There are currently just over 430,000 men and women actively in the US Navy or in the Navy Reserve”. The Nemaha Central Elementary kids sang us a song about the Navy.
Zoey Lockhart Introduces the Coast Guard, saying “The United States Coast Guard was created on August 4, 1790. The mission of the United States Coast Guard is to ensure our Nation's maritime safety, security, and stewardship. About 48,000 men and women serve in the Coast Guard either actively or as a Reserve.” The Nemaha Central Elementary kids sang a song for the Coast Guards.
Ella Sourk Introduces the Air Force, saying “The United States Air Force was created on September 18, 1947. Just this year the Air Force came out with a new mission statement, it is to fly, fight, and win... airpower anytime, anywhere. Today there are around 520,000 active duty Air Force, Air Guard, and the Air National Guard combined.”, the Nemaha Central Elementary kids sang a song for the Air Force.
Bella Bittenbender introduces the Marines saying “The United States Marines were created on November 10, 1775. The core values of the Marines are Honor, Courage, and Commitment and they fight on the ground, in the air, or at sea. Today there are over 280,000 soldiers that are either active duty marines or in the Marine Corps Reserve”. The Nemaha Central Elementary kids sang a song for the Marines.
Bella continued to introduce the Space Force, saying “We do want to recognize the most recent branch added to the military which is the Space Force. It was established on December 20, 2019, and its mission is to secure our nation’s interests in, from, and to space”. The kids did not have a song prepared for the Space Force.
After each branch is introduced, each veteran steps forward and introduces themselves, saying their name, branch, and what wars they’ve fought in.
Alan Mueting goes through a list of names of all of the Veterans we have lost in the area in the last year. This is called, Roll Call and they played the sound of a bell after every name.
Zoey Lockhart, Ella Sourk, and Lilly Leis read some amazing poems that our NC 7th and 8th graders have made in grammar class. A slideshow was then played showing Veterans over the years with their name, what war they fought in, their branch, and what year.
The students all sang God Bless the USA for our veterans, waving their hand-held flags as they all harmonized.
Nikki Honeyman announced the donations that NC had made from a hats and shades day fundraiser, the money was donated to the military museum.
Once the program ended, veterans got to enjoy cookies and drinks with their grandkids.
To all of our veterans, we thank you for your service. We appreciate everything you’ve done and could never thank you enough.
If you would like to listen to the songs that the kids were singing for each branch, it is called The United States Armed Forces Medley.
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