Celebrating the Veterans
by Sydney Pemberton
November 30, 2011
Oswego High School students were brought together on November eleventh to celebrate the annual Veterans' Day program. The 10508 Chetopa VFW placed the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Coast Guard, and POW/MIA servicemen flags delicately in the correct stall to open the show. Jeanne Dalton soon greeted the students with a cheerful smile as she spoke about why that day was so important. OHS volleyball girls presented the colors which were represented by multi-colored flowers. The first of the colors was red to represent the blood Americans shed fighting. White was the following to symbolize loyalty. Blue was the symbol of unity while the final color yellow is in hope that all our troops will return home safe. Oswego band members were next on stage to play the "Nation Anthem." Following the band grades sixth through twelfth sang "From Sea to Shining Sea." Thomas Bringle was the next speaker to approach the stand, telling a powerful story of his father's days in battle. Courtney Storm spoke soon after of an influential poem named "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier." Fifth grade choir members then performed "We Remember," lead by Randy Blackwell. Veterans present at the program were soon asked to stand by branch as all students applauded them for what they had done for this country. Finally Roberta Brightman presented a slide show which was created for this event. A final prayer was spoken by Courtney Storm before the students were dismissed back to class with the thought of veterans lingering in mind.
