Parkway North Honors Veterans
The air the morning of Nov. 11 was frigid in contrast to the atmosphere surrounding the football field where Parkway North students and the Marching Band had gathered to pay tribute to veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces on Veterans Day. Students were eager to hear the speeches given that morning by representatives of the American Legion and show their respect to the nation’s veterans and fallen soldiers.
Veterans Day began in 1919 as Armistice Day, commemorating the anniversary of the armistice that ended WW1 a year earlier. In 1938, Armistice Day became a national holiday, and then in 1954 president Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a bill changing the name to Veterans Day, to include all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Today, Veterans Day is a federal holiday, observed with ceremonies and parades around the country. Veteran’s Day is not the same as Memorial Day, which is a day to remember men and women who died while serving in the military.
“[The purpose of Veterans Day is] to remember and acknowledge the guys who are willing to give up everything they have for everyone else….Veterans day is a good opportunity for someone to say ‘thanks’ to a Veteran that they know,” said assistant principal Greg Wagener, who is a veteran Petty Officer of the U.S. Navy.
The ceremony that took place on Monday at Parkway North began with the raising of the flag, while the band played the Star Spangled Banner. Wagener gave an opening speech. Following God Bless America, Rick McGee, the 1st Vice Commander of American Legion Post 397, and Chris Hudson, American Legion member, gave speeches about support for U.S. troops. The ceremony proceeded with a moment of silence and Taps, a call sounded by trumpeters in tribute to fallen soldiers. The band then played an Armed Forces salute to honor the veterans present at the ceremony.
Senior Jennifer Keeney, whose father served as a doctor at a medical base, said that Veterans Day is important because “it gives us time to really appreciate what our service people do.”
Though Veterans Day is intended to be a day of gratitude for the country’s honorable men and women, according to a telephone survey conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC, less than half of Americans have ever participated in any ceremony honoring the nation’s military veterans.
“I think people would have a better appreciation of Veterans Day if they knew what military life was like,” said Wagener.
Parkway North intends to continue the tradition of honoring veterans during a ceremony on Nov. 11 2014, and in the years to come.
By: Ryan Lutker Staff Writer