2010+Veterans+Day+Ideas

[[file:What students say they learned from participating in Veteran.doc]]


  // “Thank You” Video   // // Veteran Processional (CD)  // // Welcome (ERICA)  //  ** In 1918, in the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the first World War was officially over. We come together today on November 11, 2009 to celebrate and remember the heroes among us; those who have fallen, those who are family left to keep the home fires burning, those who sacrificed as veterans, and especially those who are here with us today. I speak on behalf of ** ** Millbrook **  ** High School ** ** and Ms. Harrison’s Service Learning Government class to welcome each of you to the second annual Veteran’s Day Breakfast and Celebration Ceremony. We are very honored and excited to have you with us today. Would everyone please rise, & gentlemen remove your hats and join me in the pledge of allegiance & “The Star Spangled Banner.” **   // Pledge of Allegiance (ERICA)  // ** “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the ** ** United States of America ** ** and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. ** //  National Anthem (Band)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Introduction of Special Guests (KENNY)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  “Good morning. My name is Kenny Shillingburg and I am a student in Ms. Harrison’s Service Learning Government class. I would like to recognize several special guests who are joining us in thanking all of you today. As I call your name, I ask our special guests to please stand to be recognized. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  Mr. Philip Lemieux, Member of the Board of Supervisors, ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Red ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Bud ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** District ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Mr. Rick Miller, ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Frederick ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** County ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Voter Registrar ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Dr. John Lamanna, Chair of the ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Frederick ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** County ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** School ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Board ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Mr. David Glander, Recent ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Frederick ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** County ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** School ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Board Candidate ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Mrs. Patricia Taylor, Superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  Mr. Al Orndorff, Assistant Superintendent of Administration  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  Mr. Pete Vernimb, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  Mr. Jim Angelo, Director of Middle & Secondary Instructional Services  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Ms. Tara Woolever, Coordinator of Middle and Secondary Social Studies, Health, and Physical Education  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** “Today though we are here to recognize all veterans, we want to especially thank those in our own ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Millbrook ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** High School ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** family who have labored in sacrifice to our country. As I call your name, please also stand to be recognized. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**   Custodian, Hank Agregard  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  Teachers, Kim Baer, Dawn Valois, & Betty Powers  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  AND…  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Band Director, Michael Ward  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** We would also like to recognize Mr. Bob Liero, one of our Assistant Principals, who is currently deployed in ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Europe ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  And lastly, we would like to offer a special welcome to Lt. General & Mrs. Norman Smith who were able to join us today. Thank you for being here, sir. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** In addition, Representative Frank Wolf sent us a flag that flew over the ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** US ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Capitol ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Building ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**, which is currently flying outside with the POW/ MIA flag that was donated by our local chapter of Rolling Thunder. Delegate Beverly Sherwood, Vice President Joseph Biden, and President Barack Obama also send their best wishes, words of encouragement, and thanks to all of you who are in attendance today. Vice President Biden wrote, **// “You're the most visible, most vital symbol of our sense of justice and compassion that could possibly be demonstrated to the rest of the world. You're the embodiment of our deep-seated ethic of selflessness and sacrifice. You show the world, and you continue to show the world what happens when nations resolve to stand together to defeat tyranny and to build free societies. Thank you to all of the Veterans for their courage, sacrifice, and service to our nation.” // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  I would like to now present a very special guest in attendance. She comes from a long military background. Her father was a flight surgeon for the Navy. Her grandfather, the son of Russian immigrants, desperately sought to fight in WWI with his Canadian cousins, but he was sent back home after an illness. As luck would have it, two of her grandparents were born on November 11, only ten years apart, so needless to say, this day has special significance to her & her family. Without further adieu, I would like to introduce our principal, Mrs. Carolyn Butler who would like to share her own special words of greeting with all of our special guests today. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Mrs. Butler speaks to the veterans and students  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Fallen Heroes Video ( // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// DVD // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// )/ Moment of Silence // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// “Taps” (Daniel Thomas)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Family Heroes Speech (Ashley Storrs, Sarah Julian, Jamie Brittain)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Ashley Storrs:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Many of you know my brother Stephen Storrs, who graduated last year and went straight into the military. As a little boy, he dreamed of being a Marine….thank God, because college certainly wasn’t his thing! ****// (pause for laughter) //**** One of the hardest things for me to realize when he left for basic training, was that I was not only going to miss my brother, but I was going to miss my best friend. Also, I couldn’t blame things on him any more, so now I’m always in trouble. ****// (Pause for laughter )  //**** As he prepares to leave for ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Afghanistan ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** in the near future, the thought that he might not come back is always in the back of my mind, but I still keep my hopes up. I have to. This military experience has made him the man he is today and my family and I couldn’t be more proud of him. I love him with all of my heart! I’m Ashley Storrs and I wish my brother _______ Stephen Storrs a safe return to our family and community. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Sarah Julian:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Many of you may remember me as the girl who read her dad a Veterans Day poem on the phone last year. Last year, on this day, he was on his way to ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Iraq ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** to serve our country. Having my dad miss an entire year of my life was difficult but I couldn’t let his deployment effect my routine or I would have never made it through. There were a lot of prayers and many days I would come home and cry, but my mom, family, friends and teachers here at Millbrook helped me through the rough spots. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  I would say the hardest parts were the nights and holidays because that is when my dad was home the most before his deployment. We were lucky enough to be able to talk to him almost every day, and I am very thankful for that. I am happy to say that he returned last Thursday and is here with us today. Dad, would you please stand so we can all welcome you home? Things at home are a little different because instead of 2 people in the house there are now 3 again. Adjusting to his return is some what difficult because although he has been active in my life, he hasn’t been here to see everything that has been going on throughout the past year, and I have grown a lot as a person while he was away. I’m just so grateful that he is back with us again. I am Sarah Julian and I’m the proud daughter of _______________________. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Jamie Britton:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Growing up as a military child was interesting to say the least. My family and I moved to ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Winchester ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** three years ago from ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Camp Pendleton ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**, ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** California ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**. It was almost the end of my eighth grade year when we got the news that mom would be deploying to ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Iraq ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**. I remember not being able to breathe because of the state of shock I was in. It never really hit me until the time came for her to leave that May…it was Mother’s Day and she was leaving us. I remember being at the airport with my family as we said our goodbyes thinking, “How can I do this without her?” But my mom raised me to be strong and independent like her, and this was my test. During the 8 months she was away, she missed out on quite a few things like my little sister’s 4th birthday, my first day of high school, my 14th birthday, my brother’s last homecoming, and my first one. However the months went by and we counted down the days until she returned. When she came home I was probably the happiest girl in the entire world. Little did I know that things were about to change. You hear about PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and how it can affect someone, but I didn’t realize the effect it would have on my family after she returned. You see, at the time, they were blowing up the rocky ground to start construction on a new elementary school near my house and my mom, who just returning from being daily bombings in Iraq, well…..let’s just say it wasn’t good. Today, things are pretty much back to normal as she plans to retire in 2010. My mother is and will always be my hero. I’m Jamie Britton, daughter of Lt. Rhonda Luevano, and I would like to thank all American soldiers in attendance for their service to our nation and thank those family members out there who have loved ones in harm’s way. Your sacrifice of time with your loved one helps keep American free. You are the heroes on the home front and we support & thank you for your sacrifices as well. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">//  Introduction of the Route 7 (Maya Sanders)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Now here to present a choral piece entitled, “Hero” is ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Millbrook ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** High School ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** ’s Jazz Choir, “Route 7” under the direction of Mr. Brian Kelly. “Hero” was written by Walter Afanasieff and Mariah Carey, and arranged by Carl Stromman. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">//  Choir Song, “Hero”  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Veteran Heroes Among Us (Kayla Finn, Sophia Bacuros, Jean Jacobs, Erica Ridgell)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Kayla:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Students, we have all learned our fair share of history in school; we worked on worksheet after worksheet, took many notes from teacher’s lectures, and read from our enormously thick textbooks. Well, most of us have. **// (Pause for laughter) //** We learned about events and people in history, but did we truly UNDERSTAND history? Do we know what it felt like to be in a war? Do we understand the pain and heartache that many felt during these important events we have studied in our classes? Have we truly learned all that we can about ourselves and our country? **     <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Have we truly reflected on the events of the past in order to shape our future? For example, ** ** we all learned in our history classes that the war in ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Vietnam ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** was very controversial & that not all Americans were in favor of it, sort of like the current War on Terrorism. We also learned about the ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** U.S. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** forces that fought under difficult conditions in ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Korea ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** during the 1950s to keep communism from taking over that region of the world. And we all studied D-Day, the ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Battle ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** of the Bulge and many other WWII battles in which the “Greatest Generation” did their part to preserve freedom. We focused on the plight of the Jews during the Holocaust and the bombing of ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Pearl Harbor ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** on an early Sunday morning, but how many of us dug deeper than a textbook page or a major motion picture to fully understand the sacrifices of the men and women who lived these events? How many of us understand the heroism it took to be successful, or even just to make it home? **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Luckily, my fellow service learning students and I have. Our class had the opportunity to speak with veterans from many different generations over the past few months, and we learned the true meanings of service, sacrifice, and heroism. We talked to some of the participants in ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** America ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** ’s greatest conflicts and our knowledge now goes beyond the words of a book into the difficult decisions our veterans had to make, and the experiences they had to endure. Recently, we sat across from them at library tables, listening to their stories. Mr. Graham, a veteran from Vietnam, told us that you had two choices due to the draft-- run to Canada and not come back, or go to war. He said, “Going to ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Canada ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** wasn’t a real solution for me, if I went to ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Canada ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** I could never come home; ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** America ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** is my HOME.” Upon returning from this war, soldiers were called names, spit on, and never received a thank you; they were called horrible names and even their families were treated poorly. Even though Alan Morrison’s brother had given his life in ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Vietnam ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**, there were no community celebrations of his life or his sacrifice. The family felt ignored and left alone in their grief. Mr. Watts, a Korean war veteran, told us how he lied in order to sign up for the military at age 16, and his hard-working parents approved because he would be one less mouth to feed. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Later, while working with the ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** CIA ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** in ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Laos ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**, he wasn’t even allowed to tell his family where he was and he could have no contact with his parents. Yet he still says, that he [quote] “lives with no regrets. If I was called back, I’d go in a heartbeat.” And Mr. Thompson, a veteran from WWII, told us of the jubilation and [u-4-ia] euphoria surrounding his return trip to the ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** United States ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** via a ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** US ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Navy ship. When the captain announced during their voyage that the war was finally over, screaming, crying, laughing, and singing could be heard from every individual. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** For many of the veterans we interviewed, the memories they were sharing were over 30, 40, or even 50 years old, but the experiences of their youth were as vivid as if they were just yesterday. It was a youth that was over too soon as the men who were drafted or volunteered went from being fun-loving high school students, to fighting wars, and facing acts of brutality nearly every day. We learned that we should value our youth, because you never know when your ‘youth’ will end. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Erica:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** The veterans that we met with served their country either by choice or by draft. Many were faced with the certainty that the war would soon choose them, and they decided to volunteer instead. They answered the call to serve, even if they did not agree with the war in which they were fighting. Their country was asking them to serve and they did, without question, and to the best of their ability. Each veteran we spoke with declared a deep sense of patriotism and duty, which they attributed to their years of service. This is another lesson they taught us-- every young person has a duty to serve. This is not always going to require serving in the military, rather to see the greater world beyond yourself and be willing to serve a cause greater than your own life. As citizens of a free country, we have opportunities every day to serve in our school and community. We learned from these men that we need to make a commitment to serve. Why can’t we take some spare change in order to donate food to the needy? Why can’t we go through our closets and give away our gently used clothing to someone who can use it? ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Who can spare an hour to tutor a troubled student or play cards with an older person in a nursing home? Can we check with a neighbor before we go to the store to see if they are in need, or rake the leaves out of the yard of the elderly lady down the street? Who among us can become a teacher, firefighter, policeman, or concerned citizen? Why can’t we take 10 minutes on the first Tuesday in November to vote for the future of our community and nation? Service comes in many forms and these men fought so we would even have the opportunity to serve. We have learned that it is OUR duty as it was theirs. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Sophia:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Another valuable lesson we learned from our veterans was the importance of education. Learning and regurgitating facts is not enough in the information age in which we live. We must reject the notion that “ignorance is bliss” and research & judge events, facts, and opinions that we may encounter in the media or among our friends. If we, as young individuals, enlighten ourselves with truth and integrity, then we have a powerful voice. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** TV, radio, movies or any other forms of information will not be able to control us, instead our voices will have the power to fight for justice and equality. Arnie Everson, you told me that if there was one thing you could wish for our nation’s future, it would be that no generation of men and women would receive the unfair treatment from the media that ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Vietnam ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** veterans endured. What I can promise to you is that for as long as I live, I will stand up for those who stand up for my country, in any way possible. You, as well as all veterans, have made such a tremendous impact on the way we view our world. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  And finally, through time spent with our men and women in uniform, we learned the definition of a hero. **
 * Jean: **

<span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> To us, a hero is someone who is willing to give anything to protect something he loves. **    <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> Mr. Everson taught me that a hero is someone who saves lives but doesn’t wish to take them. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> Robert Graham taught me that a hero is someone who protects others before himself. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> Mr. Morrison taught me that heroes sometimes don’t come back; sometimes they suffer. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> Mr. Watts taught me that acts of heroism often come from those whom you least expect. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Sophia:  **** I learned that everyone in the military is a hero. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> Everyone back home has the potential to be one. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> To be a hero, you don’t have to be the strongest or the bravest. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> You just have to be willing to act like it. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> We asked a few of you veterans if you believe you that you are heroes. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> Every one of you said no.  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> We disagree. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> To us, each and every one of you is a hero. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> You protected us. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> You risked your lives for all of us. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Jean:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** You devoted yourself to a cause greater than your own life. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> And you were willing to do anything for your country. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Sophia:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** And we learned that you don’t want medals or awards. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Kayla:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** You are not seeking fame or recognition. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Jean:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** You just want to tell your stories. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Erica:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** And you want US to keep telling them. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> So we have. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Kayla:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** And we will continue. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Jean:  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** And the only thing left to give you is our thanks ****. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Thank you. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Introduction of Band Medley (Jean Jacobs)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  We have veterans here today from every branch of the armed services and we would like to honor you one last time by playing your branch song. As our band plays your song, please stand so we may recognize you for your service to our nation.” ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Band plays Medley of Armed Forces Songs (Kenny announces-wait for Mr. Ward to look at you at the change of each song!)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** The ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** United States ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Army! **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  The ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** U.S. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Coast Guard! ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**   The Marines! ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  The ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** United States ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Air Force! **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  The ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** U.S. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Navy! ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">//  Closing (Kayla Finn)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** A poem entitled, “I Want to Thank You”  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Everyday I see a soldier in uniform,  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Every time I want to say thank you for serving our country. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  I never build up the courage to say thank you. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  I want to get up and say I'm proud of you,  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** You served our country to protect our freedom. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  You are a son, father, a husband, and uncle,  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** But most of all you are a hero. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** I pray for God to wrap his arms around you and keep you safe  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Through all that you do, because you do so much for our country. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  People who don't know you are missing out on a amazing person,  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** It takes a special person to do what you do. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  Thank you for keeping our country,  ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** The ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** United States of America ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**, ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** FREE ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**. **   <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** What is a hero? When we were children, we often thought of people like Spiderman, Batman, or Superman as our heroes. Perhaps as we grew older, our heroes were professional baseball or football players or some famous movie stars or singers. But to me and to many at Millbrook High School, those people are no longer our heroes; they may be people we look up to or want to be like but, they are not heroes. We understand now that YOU are our ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** TRUE ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** heroes. You risked your life to protect ours and for that we can only thank you. These words may be ones that some of you have never heard before in response to your service to this nation but, we, the students and staff of Millbrook High School, stand by you and support you; for you make us proud to be Americans and you make us want to be better people & better citizens. Most of all, we want to right a wrong that many of you endured as you came from lands far away to an ungrateful nation. We finally say “thank you” for protecting and serving The ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** United States of America ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**. **  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Student Thank You Video ( // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// DVD // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// ) // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// Final Closing (Jean Jacobs)  // <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** “This concludes today’s celebration. We would like to draw your attention to the inside of the program where we have attempted to thank all of those who have contributed to today’s event. We also have a table in the foyer devoted to our care packages for the troops program. If you would like to write a thank you note for a soldier currently serving overseas, please stop by the table and do so. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**  Later this morning there is an American Legion celebration which begins at ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** 10:30 ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** at ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Shenandoah ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Memorial ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Gardens ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** off of Rt. 522. This evening the Rolling Thunder POW/ MIA organization will hold a ceremony at the memorial in ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Jim ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;"> <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Barnett ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">  <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">** Park ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**. Everyone is invited. ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">**   We would like to remind students to please remain in the auditorium until our veterans and special guests have been dismissed. And again, we thank you for your service and sacrifice. You TRULY are “Heroes Among Us.” ** <span style="mso-bookmark: OLE_LINK1;">// (Recessional music)  //
 * Erica: ****
 * Sophia: ****
 * Kayla: ****
 * Jean: ****
 * Erica: ****
 * Kayla: ****
 * Jean: ****
 * Erica: ****
 * Sophia: ****
 * Kayla: ****
 * Jean: ****
 * Erica: ****
 * Sophia: ****
 * Kayla: ****
 * Erica: ****
 * Sophia: ****
 * All: **