Schools honor veterans
LIBERTY — It started six years ago, when a social studies teacher tasked his Liberty High School students to write letters to a fellow teacher, who happened to be a veteran.
“I had my freshman class write letters to Mr. (Chris) Kohl, and we put them in a book and we gave it to him on Veterans Day,” explained Gary Knettle. “It brought him to tears.”
The next year, Knettle expanded the idea, having students write letters to family members who were in the military.
“A couple of years ago, we decided to print all the letters and put them up on a wall, and over the years, it’s kind of evolved into an American flag,” Knettle said.
The students enjoy writing the letters, Knettle said.
“I wrote my letter to my uncle because I am always honored to have him in my life as a past Air Force serviceman, and it really means a lot to me that he’s in my family,” said freshman Breanna McCain. “And that I have a veteran I can go to if I want to ask him anything about the Air Force.”
This year, the letters were addressed to family members and some to all veterans, Knettle said.
“We thank you for defending our country, through thick and thin, and as a first priority of your service, we thank you time and time again for something in your life that was so small, but in our lives so big and for that we thank you,” read one letter, written by freshman Elston Bannon.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Derick Young was the featured speaker during the school’s Veterans Day assembly.
“Today’s not about me as an individual, it’s about us — veterans of this great nation,” Young said. “Now that I’ve hung up my uniform I’m tasked with a new mission. In a way, all of us veterans are tasked with the same mission and it’s one far greater than I’ve ever been given before.”
Young said that mission is to carry on the names and stories of those who can’t speak for themselves. He said he hopes people will start working together.
“I hope that people get rid of some of the spiteful or prideful feelings that they have and just learn to work together,” Young said. “It’s about sacrifices. The world’s not perfect for everyone but if we work together at least we can make it a better place.”
Students at Willard and McGuffey PK-8 Schools in Warren also held Veterans Day ceremonies on Monday. At Willard, second-graders sang patriotic songs and heard poems read by older students.
Maplewood High School hosted its annual Veterans Day program Friday. Veterans spoke about their experiences, the band played and choir sang patriotic songs, there was a tribute to fallen soldiers by the Trumbull County American Legion Honor Guard and a brunch. Several veterans from Victoria House Assisted Living in Austintown were in attendance.
The speakers this year were Donald Griffin of Johnston, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who spoke about his service and that of eight of his 10 brothers who all served either during or just following World War II, and Roger Gardner of Champion, a veteran of the U.S. Army and member of the American Legion Honor Guard and VFW, who spoke about his service along with the 10,000-plus hours of volunteer service he has clocked helping veterans and their families.
cramey@tribtoday.com
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