Karns City students appreciate veterans
Forty veterans from all branches of the military were honored at a Veterans Day luncheon and assembly at Karns City Area High School Wednesday afternoon.
Former servicemen and women from wars such as Vietnam, Korea and even World War II were represented.
The annual event was canceled last year due to COVID-19, and 11th-grade student Ciara Leasure said it disappointed many veterans.
Members of the high school's student council greeted veterans in the library, which was decorated in red, white and blue for the occasion. Those in attendance received lunch and a tour of the school hallways, where homerooms had decorated their doors in honor of the veterans' service.
Amanda Walters, band director at the school and organizer of the event, said the students were great at assisting in the preparation of the event. They spent the previous day decorating and making desserts for the luncheon.
“They keep asking how else they can help,” Walters said.
Most veterans attended in uniform, and student council members dressed in patriotic garb and enjoyed hearing the attending veterans' stories.
“They're so sweet,” 11th-grade student Kenzie Fair said of the attendees. “They're adorable.”
“It makes you feel good at the end of the day, knowing you made someone's day,” ninth-grade student Savanna Prescott said.
Walters said the veterans enjoy gathering at the annual event to catch up with friends and fellow service members.
“They love to come talk to each other and appreciate all the students are doing,” Walters said.
Skip Hesidenz, who served in the Marine Corps for three years, said he believed this event was a great way to recognize veterans.
“It's good to put it on,” Hesidenz said. “We like it when you recognize us and our service.”
At 1 p.m., the veterans marched into the high school gym, where students were gathered for an assembly. The choir sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the school band played various patriotic songs, including “Marches of the Armed Forces,” during which veterans stood and received applause when their branch song was played.
Larry J. Rettig, who served in both the Army and National Guard for more than 20 years, said he was most excited for the assembly portion of the event.
“You know, the Vietnam vets got no party when they returned,” Rettig said. “This is great.”
Jim Miller, president of the Legion Riders of Lyndora Post 778, led the Empty Chair Ceremony to honor prisoners of war and service members who are missing in action. There were also presentations by Eugene Wise, former Coast Guard; Ron Huff, who served in the Navy during Vietnam; and Frank Callahan, Army veteran and current chaplain of the Chicora American Legion.
Huff, the featured guest speaker at the assembly, charged students to thank veterans every day for their service.
“The military is not for everybody, that's for sure,” Huff said. “But we can all do something for our country every day. Be proud of your country.”
He also encouraged students to give special thanks to those who served in Vietnam and Korea.
“They never got that 'thank you' when they came home,” Huff said. “This event touches me (deeply) because it's a big 'thank you' for veterans who never received a 'thank you.' It helps the healing process.”
During Callahan's presentation, he spoke about the VFW Buddy Poppy program — which provides compensation to veterans who assemble the poppies as well as national veterans programs — and tested students toward the end of his talk on the significance and origin of the organization.
As part of the assembly, all veterans in attendance stood and introduced themselves, their branch, and when and where they served. The students gave a rousing round of applause to every single one.
Following a moment of silence and the playing of taps, Walters thanked the veterans for coming out and encouraged students to take something away from the event. “I hope you've learned something about veterans and their sacrifice today,” Walters said.
At the event's close, Larry Thompson, former Air Force member, offered a prayer in recognition of all veterans and spoke to the students.
“You young people are the reason we served,” Thompson said.
