The combined California High School and Middle School Veterans Day Assembly was held at the high school gym Wednesday, Nov. 11. Lauren Ziehmer and Hannah Banderman served as MC's of the event.
The main speaker was former Conservation Commissioner Don Johnson, an Air Force veteran of Vietnam, who was awarded a number of medals and citations. Following his introduction by Ziehmer, Johnson greeted the assembled students and staff and spoke of the veterans present as being heroes and leaders. He then said a hero is a person who when they feel fear, they go on and do the job.
"The country needs leaders to help us do the right thing and take us where we need to go," he said. "I challenge you to become heroes!"
Johnson spoke of his experiences as a United States Air Force pilot. For three and a half years, he piloted Lockheed C-141 Starlifter cargo planes in many parts of the world. Then he was assigned to fly AC-119 and AC-130 gunships in Vietnam. He flew 130 combat missions during the last part of America's activity in the war. The main mission of he and his crew was to destroy the trucks and supplies using the Ho Chi Minh trail. In that role, he was shot at every day by the people who didn't want their trucks destroyed. "I know a little about getting shot at and a little about coping with fear," he said. He then spoke of heroes, and said, "A hero is someone who when filled with fear, goes on and does the job."
Johnson explained that, when in high school in Oklahoma City, some visitors gave a test to the seniors. He, as one of the top three students in the class, was offered and accepted a free-ride scholarship to Howard University, Washington, D.C. He worked hard, became an Air Force R.O.T.C. student, then was provided pilot training during his senior year. He graduated and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. Since he already was a licensed pilot, Johnson did very well in Flight School at Randolph Air Force Base. The C-141 was his first choice to fly.
One piece of good advice he was given was, "Work hard at all opportunities." He followed up with another bit of good advice, "Usually, opportunity comes disguised as hard work."
Johnson, Festus, served as a member of the Conservation Commission from 2007-13. He was president of the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) from 2006 until his appointment to the Conservation Commission. He is active in the National Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited. Johnson is Vice President of Human Resources at Suddenlink Communications in St. Louis. He was honored by Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation as one of the four finalists for the 2012 Budweiser Conservationist of the Year.
The Veterans Day event began at about 8 a.m. with middle school and high school student council members greeting veterans and assisting in serving them breakfast in the CHS Commons. The bleachers were already filled with students, and veterans friends and family as the veterans entered the gym about 8:30 as the Sounds of Joy performed the national anthem. The veterans were introduced and seated on chairs in front of the bleachers. Individual military branch songs were played with veterans of each military branch asked to stand when their branch song was played.
The CMS Kiwanis Essay winners and honorable mention winners were introduced by Kiwanis President Peter Kurowski, St. Paul's Lutheran Church pastor. He talked about the Kiwanis work to encourage patriotism and preserve American Freedom. He commented on the role of the military to protect liberty and protect the people of the country.
Kurowski said, "In order to have freedom, it takes good soldiers and respect for the Rule of Law. Without the Rule of Law, we have nothing at all."
The theme for the students to write on was "Bullying." Seventh grade essay winners were: first place - Jakson Henry; second - Jacob McCracken; third - Mathew Kilmer; fourth - Garrett Burger; and fifth - Jason Crow. Eighth grade winners: first place - Amber Trachsel; second - Rebekah Farmer; and third - Brooklyn Bax.
The first place winners read their essays. Seventh grade first place winner Jakson Henry read his entry, "Holocaust," followed by eighth grade first place winner Amber Trachsel, with her entry "On-Going Issue."
Mason Albertson read his essay, "My Vision of America," which has been submitted to Sone-Basinger VFW Post 1003 for the national Veterans of Foreign War essay contest.
The seventh-eighth grade Pinto Express performed selections of patriotic music.
Guest speaker Johnson spoke after which the event ended with the playing of "Taps."