CAMPBELL ELEMENTARY CELEBRATES VETERANS
School principal says those who served are 'hometown celebrities'
Campbell Elementary students paid tribute to veterans Thursday with a special Veteran’s Day ceremony held at the flag pole in front of the school.
The ceremony started with students proceeding out of the building as several patriotic tunes played. Opening remarks were then given by Principal Brenda Kloberdanz.
“It is an honor to be here today in the presence of some of our hometown celebrities,” she said, acknowledging the veterans who attended the ceremony. “The men and women here today have earned our deepest respect and admiration for their unselfish service to preserve our freedoms, our safety and our country’s heritage. Please enjoy this celebration that we have prepared for you, and know that we are forever grateful for the sacrifice of veterans all over the world.”
An instrumental version of the “Star Spangled Banner” was
then played and students then sang the song, led by Erica Portillo-wittrock’s fifth grade class, as they unraveled a large American flag and then waved it.
Next, Brandi Newcomb, a paraprofessional at Campbell Elementary and an Army veteran, read a poem written by her daughter, Lilliann, in honor of all current and past military service members, including those no longer with us, as well as the students at her school.
“What waves day and night, and has pride and takes flight;
“Whose colors never bleed and makes enemies tremble at their knees;
“Red, white and blue, I love it, it’s true;
“America, land of the free, land where the brave never flee;
“America you mean a lot to me, from sea to shining sea;
“We make a difference each day, we shine more than the sun in May;
“We are lucky to be free, but if not where would be;
“But our right to be, because I’m grateful to see;
“They did so much for us, why I sing to thus;
“America you bright, brighter than the sun;
“And in my life, you lift me higher.”
Before reading the poem, Newcomb gave some words of encouragement to the students.
“You all are our next generation, we’re not just standing here in front of you guys but we’re the ones looking out at you all, you all might not think you can do much in this life, but let me tell you, you can. Don’t doubt yourselves guys,” she told the students.
Following the poem, Serana Hubert’s fifth grade class lead their classmates in singing “God Bless the USA” and Jason Huggins’ fifth grade class led a performance of “Fifty Nifty United States,” both under the direction of Janelle Nicolaus.
After the songs, Jake Uhrig Post 3541 VFW Commander Michael Stevens, who served in the Marine Corps and was deployed to Afghanistan, gave a few short remarks and then asked the veterans in attendance to introduce themselves.
“I want to thank everybody for this wonderful ceremony put on. I want to thank all of our veterans that came out to this celebration as well,” he said, and then told the students they are the reason that many veterans serve, “for this wonderful country, for our wonderful people. As you heard from Ms. Brandy you can be anything. I was proud to go over there, fight for our freedoms and your right to be the next president, senator, mayor, whatever you decide to be.”