More than 40 veterans attended the Jamestown School Veterans Day Assembly Friday, Nov. 11.
Student Council President Cara Scheperle welcomed the students, veterans and others to the event. She explained that Veterans Day was first known as Armistice Day. The welcome followed the prelude played by the Seventh-12th grade Band. The Colors were posted followed by the singing of "You're a Grand Old Flag" by the kindergarten through second grade students. The Seventh-12th grade Choir sang "Armed Forces - Pride of America," followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
George R. Shelley, U.S. Army Major (retired), speaker, was introduced by E.H. Hirschvogel, who informed those present, that in addition to being a veteran, Shelley was a California High School English teacher. Hirschvogel said Shelley was very good English teacher, and he learned a lot in his classes.
Shelley, always a teacher, called a couple of students up to show how to properly fold the flag. He also explained that flags originated when the military units belonged to the commanding general, not a country. When the flag was no longer flying, the unit was considered to have surrendered. It was explained that at Fort McHenry, where "The Star-Spangled Banner" poem was written, the British were attempting to shoot the flag down, rather than at the fort. If they could have taken it down, the fort would have been considered to have fallen. But the British were unsuccessful and as the poem and song state, "And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!"
The veterans were introduced after the special poster contest winners and the essay contest winners were announced.