Faith Academy honors veterans
Published 12:10 am Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Gabriel Ketner, Meera Patel and Maci Linebarger carried the Faith Academy Charter School banner to mark the beginning of the parade. — Karen Kistler
Third grade students sang several songs during the Veterans Day celebraton. — Karen Kistler
Members of Faith Academy Charter School’s Patriot Band performed several pieces during the ceremony. — Karen Kistler
Students carried posters and signs during the parade wishing a Happy Veterans Day on Nov. 8 at the school. — Karen Kistler
Hannah Teeter, left, and Izzy Jenkiins unfold the flag to place on the flag pole as the third grade students watch and wait to sing. — Karen Kistler
The school’s Patriot mascot walks in the parade waving a flag along with the students. — Karen Kistler
From left, Gabe Woods, Izzy Jenkins and Hannah Teeter and prepare to raise the flag as the ceremony begins. — Karen Kistler
Veterans were honored during Faith Academy Charter School’s furth annual ceremony. Tommie Cato, front row, left, holds a sign saying “We Love You Veterans.,” at right is guest speaker Tom Duncan. — Karen Kistler
A large crowd of students and staff members watched the parade as it went around the school building. — Karen Kistler
FAITH — Veterans, students, staff and other guests gathered at the flag pole at Faith Academy Charter School on Nov. 8 to honor veterans.
This was the school’s fourth annual Veterans Day celebration, featuring Tom Duncan as the guest speaker. A retired U.S. Army veteran, Duncan served as a pilot.
He spoke about veterans, who they are, why they might have joined the service and noted there are 18 million veterans in this country. He also noted that veterans are men and women, all races, coming from every part of the country. Some veterans are war veterans and some, he said, served honorably without ever going.
“The important thing,” Duncan said, “was they went where they were told to go and they did the job they were trained to do. Every job is important.”
Veterans take care of one another, which he said was very important, knowing that they will take care of you, too. And when you do this for a while, Duncan said, “you’re sort of in a very special club. That’s why these veterans do things together.”
He concluded by telling that veterans are “just regular people. We were just put in special circumstances, and we appreciate the fact that you remember us. We thank you for that.”
Gloria Wilhelm, a volunteer coordinator, organized the event and served as emcee for the ceremony welcoming everyone.
The ceremony began with the school’s flag squad unfolding and raising the flag and leading in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Student Layla Hanks shared the explanation of Veterans Day followed by students Brady Bost, Layla Hamrick and Landon Hiatt, reading essays about the importance of the flag.
Entertainment was provided by the third-grade students singing, led by music teacher Sharon Gunther and the Patriot band, which performed several pieces, led by director Jon Kirk.
The ceremony concluded with a parade to honor the veterans as all the students which participated in the program, along with the school’s Patriot mascot and additional third, fourth and fifth-grade students carrying banners and posters made their way around the school building cheered on by students as they watched them pass by.
Following the event, veterans were invited to remain for coffee and doughnuts.
