Honoring our Heros

By EMILY DIEDRICH and BAYLEE KENDRICK
ednesday, November 11, 2009 was Veteran’s Day! As tribute to the nation’s veterans, Drexel R-IV hosted an assembly and invited area veterans to attend. The entire school was also in attendance.
The assembly kicked off with Jeff Levy, the elementary principal, welcoming everyone and thanking them for coming. When he was finished, he introduced Annie Orton, a junior, to sing the National Anthem.
Melissa Groves, the music director, led the high school choir up onto the risers and they sang, “Battle Hymm of the Republic.” With sounds of the choir still echoing through the gymnasium, the guest speaker, Randy Shannon (at right), took the podium. Randy served for 20 years in the Army, and is currently a prominent businessman here in Drexel. He made a heartfelt speech about our veterans, thanking them for their service to our nation. He then introduced Dale Blan, a senior, and told of Dale’s recent enlistment with the U.S. Marine Corps.
After Mr. Shannon’s speech, Katie Hocker (President of NHS) and Dale Blan (Senior Student Council Representative) presented a Certificate of Recognition to all the attending veteran’s as Mr. Levy announced their names.
The high school choir then led the audience in singing, “God Bless America.” The whole student body, the teachers, the administration and the veteran’s sang along. As the final chorus ended, the lights were dimmed and the high school choir, joined by the 6th grade, performed, “American Tears,” a song Mrs. Groves and the choir chose because they said, “It’s a touching song and it represents the feeling of most of the U.S. citizens on Veteran’s Day.”