Students learn importance of respecting, thanking veterans

On Thursday, Nov. 9, St. Raphael School honored more than 30 U.S. military veterans in the community at a Veterans Day assembly. Principal Mrs. Ann Miller organized this assembly as a way to teach students the importance of honoring and respecting the brave men and women who served our country. An announcement was put into the St. Raphael Parish bulletin inviting veterans to attend the assembly, and veterans from all five branches of the military responded.

The students and guests stood in respectful silence as the veterans processed in behind a student color guard bearing the American flag. The assembly prayed, said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem, accompanied by a student vocalist and the school band. Each veteran was announced by name, rank and military branch. The audience then listened to the anthems of each of the branches of the U.S. military and invited our veterans to stand when they heard their anthem being played. The students respectfully applauded each of the veterans.

The guest speaker, retired Army Col. Jim Riley, spoke to the students about the sacrifices made by the members of our military and their families on the homefront. He taught the students that the veterans are the ones who fought for their freedoms, that Veterans Day is always celebrated in the 11th month on the 11th day in the 11th hour, and thanked his fellow veterans for their service. To end the assembly, music teacher Mr. Matthew Wirfel, a retired member of the U.S. Navy Band, played taps on his trumpet while all those gathered faced the American flag in respectful silence, and the veterans processed out.

Thank you to Mrs. Ann Miller, Mr. Roger Andrachik, Mr. Matthew Wirfel, Col. Jim Riley, and all of the veterans who attended the assembly. The Veterans Day assembly taught the students of St. Raphael School the importance of respecting our veterans and thanking them for making so many sacrifices to protect our freedoms.

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Volume 9, Issue 22, Posted 9:55 AM, 11.21.2017