Nearly 130 veterans from World War II to the current conflictattended the 16th annual Veterans Day program at Huntington HighSchool Friday.
As people filled the auditorium seats, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”played as pictures of past and present service men and womenscrolled across a big screen on stage.
Radio deejay Danny Merrell emceed the event, and one by one eachof the veterans in attendance was recognized by name and stood to around of applause.
Tech Sgt. Chad Brock, who recently returned from a tour inAfghanistan, led the crowd, which included the entire HuntingtonHigh School student body, in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Two students recited a tribute to the veterans, and then theHuntington Highsteppers presented the flag and seal from eachmilitary branch as their respective songs played over theloudspeaker.
Throughout the ceremony, Driftwood, an acappella quartet fromBeaumont, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America”and “America the Beautiful.”
Ret. Air Force Lt. Col. Milt Price served as the keynotespeaker. Price was a tanker pilot during the Vietnam War. After 25years in the Air Force, he began working for American Airlines. Heflew into New York City the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, and said hehad often piloted Flights 11 and 77, the two planes which flew intothe Twin Towers that fateful morning. he thought that would be thestart of World War III and thanked the veterans that it did notcome to that.
“Unfortunately I was there to witness it all, and it was not apretty sight,” Price said. “Both 11 and 77 were flights I had flownmany times. that could have easily been me. There’s been a lot oftalk lately about the national debt, but few bring up the biggestdebt of all — that which America owes its veterans. Wars liberateslaves and stop genocide. without veterans America would not beAmerica. there are 23 million veterans from the greatest generationto the latest generation. never forget them. any veteran would saythat freedom is not free. Someone has to step forward and defendthat freedom, so thank them. we must work all year long to honortheir sacrifice.”
A slideshow of HHS students currently serving then playedfollowed by a haunting moment of silence. Each person was lost inhis or her own thoughts of loved ones serving or thoselong-forgotten war-ridden memories as “Taps” rang through theauditorium.
A video then played about a group of Marines who returned toMakin Island in the Pacific Ocean to retrieve 19 men who had diedon those shores during World War II.
“I get a great dose of humility seeing what really matters,”Merrell said as his voice cracked and he paused to wipe away thetears, “and what we should be concerned about in this country.”
Merrell applauded Huntington ISD’s dedication to the event.
“If you’ve read the newspapers you know there’s a bit of abudget crisis in public education,” Merrell said. “I’m glad this isone thing that does not get cut from the budget.”
Since 1993, Huntington has celebrated veterans on this specialday of the year.
Co-coordinator J’Nelle Short said what started out as a smallprogram honoring a handful of veterans has turned into a majorcelebration.
“It started 16 years ago when the middle school and high schoolstudent councils decided to have a program to honor the veterans.About 12 to 15 veterans showed up and most were grandpas or familymembers,” Short said. “It’s now a big community thing. It’s grownto involve so much of the community.”
Short said it’s important for the students to have thisexperience each year.
“It’s important for the students to see the men and women here;each have their own story,” Short said. “For the kids to hear thestories is a better lesson than they can learn in theclassroom.”
Following the ceremony, the veterans and their families wereserved a traditional American barbeque lunch surrounded by picturesof men and women who have served in the Armed Forces.
Melissa Crager’s email address .
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