MCAS Celebrates Veterans Day
Michigan City High School
Principal Wendel McCollum welcomed everyone, particularly any veterans in the audience. The ceremony was a modified military parade. There was the march-on of troops by the MCJROTC cadets accompanied by military marching music by the band, the manual of rifle arms by the cadets, and the signing of the national anthem by the choir. There was also a demonstration of armed exhibition drill by the cadets, the armed forces medley and the playing of Taps by the band, and the choir signing of God Bless America.
The guest speaker was State Representative Scott Pelath. He emphasized that the economic prosperity that we enjoy is due to the sacrifices made by our veterans. Following his remarks, Representative Pelath presented the Naval Honor School plaque to Mr. McCollum, designating the MCHS MCJROTC as one of the top programs in the nation. The program concluded with a moment of silence for all who died in the service of our country, the playing of Taps, and then the cadets marching past the spectators in pass in review.
In addition to this ceremony, the MCJROTC also participated in the following ceremonies honoring veterans in Michigan City: the Veterans Breakfast at American Post 37; the Veterans Parade; St. Paul’s School Veterans Day program; Morningstar Church Veterans Day program; Marine Corps League Birthday Celebration; and the Victory for Veterans program.
Knapp Elementary School
Teachers Rachel Ward and Mike Maesch conducted a special Veteran's Day project in their classrooms. This involved a reading unit to better help the students understand the meaning of the day and why it is so important we recognize those who have sacrificed so much. The students also created a small American Flag project: They are learning about mixtures and solutions in science, and built small wooden forms to pour concrete into. They received some flags from DAV 23 and mounted the flags in the concrete immediately after they poured it. They removed the forms and decorated them with vocabulary words they learned in reading. The finished art was delivered back to the DAV on Veteran's Day.
Pine Elementary School
Veteran Pam Kiney spoke to Kindergarten classes and passed out booklets and flags. Pine also hosted an assembly with members of VFW Post # 2536, along with family/friends who are or were a part of the military. Commander Larry Thompson and Veterans from multiple wars/conflicts spoke to students, and winning student essays were read. Pine students also sang patriotic selections, finishing the program by honoring each of the Veterans in attendance with red, white and blue carnatians donated by a local florist.
Springfield Elementary School
Springfield 2nd & 3rd grade music students held an evening program titled, “Let’s Sing America”, on Monday, Nov. 9. During this time, they celebrated America and recognized Veterans. On Veterans Day, individual classrooms and grade levels focused on Veterans Day activities.
Krueger Middle School
Reading classes in the 7/8 hallway held a “Close Read” event for Veterans Day, working on historical nonfiction centering on veterans. (A close read involves determining purpose, viewpoint, and bias, and also analyzing tone and mood within a text.) Students finished up with a writing exercise -- a very educational Veterans Day, indeed!
Lake Hills students took part in several service projects for the VFW and DAV, making placements for their luncheons and banners for their halls. They also held a "Popcorn for Patriots" one day sale of popcorn with proceeds going to the VFW relief fund. Many classes incorporated curriculum about the significance of Veterans Day. The highlight of the day was an all-school assembly by the flagpole at 10:30 a.m. The entire student body and staff joined in saying the pledge as well as singing a medley of patriotic songs.