Jamestown School observes Veterans Day

<p>Democrat photo / David A. Wilson</p><p>State Rep. Sarah Walsh spoke at at the Jamestown assembly.</p>

Democrat photo / David A. Wilson

State Rep. Sarah Walsh spoke at at the Jamestown assembly.

The Veterans Day observance at Jamestown School was held Nov. 10. The event began with the Jamestown Eagle Band performing "An Occasional Suite," "Of Courage and Valor," "Yorkshire Ballad," "Big Four March" and "The Legacy of Heroes."

The colors were posted by Trenton and Travis Barbour, followed by a welcome by Student Council President Aliegh Monroe. Then the kindergarten through second-grade students sang "America the Beautiful." The seventh-12th grade choir sang "Armed Forces - The Pride of America," followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The speaker, 50th District State Rep. Sarah Walsh, was introduced by Gretchen Guitard. Walsh spoke of the fact that it takes "good men and good women to stand up and make a sacrifice for all." With one percent of the population serving in the armed forces, "today (Veteran's Day) is the day to ponder those who served." She mentioned that Memorial Day is the day for remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

"We sometimes take it for granted, that we have our beautiful freedom," she said. On Veterans Day, Americans have a special opportunity to honor those who served in the armed forces to help America gain and keep its freedom. Before Veterans Day, an essay contest was held with the basic theme of how promoting peace honors the veterans.

Veterans were recognized together by branch of service. Later, those who registered were asked to stand individually, as the veteran's name was read.

Winners were sixth-grader Henry Hirschvogel, seventh-grader Annabelle Sumner, eighth-grader Gage Reynolds, and ninth-grader Maddie Sedgwick. The following excerpts are taken from their essays.

"First, before I say anything else," Gage Reynolds said beginning his essay, "is 'thank you' to all the veterans that have served today." He continued with, " attend a veterans assembly. Ask a veteran about their time in the military, and really listen to the answer." He went on to speak of honoring veterans by visiting a veteran's grave and raising money for the veterans' Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

In the essay of Annabelle Sumner, she said, "One thing that you can do to honor your veterans is to say the national anthem. While singing the national anthem, we should always stand up and take off our hats. The national anthem is a great way to honor our veterans."

In his essay, Henry Hirschvogel said, "Things we should never do to our veterans are kneeling for the national anthem and mass shootings. This is very disrespectful, not to mention mass shootings are just explaining that everything soldiers have done for us is useless." He went on to say, "basically, think before you act and keep kindness in your heart."

Maddie Sedgwick said in her essay: "Honoring veterans isn't something that should be taken lightly. The word honor means to credit. If someone is willing to put their life on the line for millions of people they don't know, they should definitely be honored, and with high levels at that."

Kirby Baumert was presented a plaque in recognition of his participation as a guardian in 30 of the Central Missouri Honor Flights. The plaque was presented by a Jamestown area resident, retired Col. Dave Shaul.

Following the third- to sixth-grade chorus performing a rendition of "American Tears," the Veterans Day Poster Contest winners were announced. The winners were: kindergarten Eli Magruder and Kimberly Cobb, first grade Nash McDannold and Halle VanSteenburgh, second grade Tristan Schoenthal and Isabel Lund, third grade William Sumner and Clara Baepler, fourth grade Shepard Lawson and Hannah Fowler, and fifth grade Rylie Kemfer and Kylie Allen.

The final song, was "Song for the Unsung Hero" by the seventh- to 12th-grade choir.