Students, staff, community members, but most importantly, veterans, attended our annual program to honor our veterans last Friday, under the direction of CES principal Kara Forbus. The program was a collaborative effort of students and staff and was emceed by CES sixth grade students. The program opened with the recitation of the “Pledge of Allegiance,” followed by the singing of the national anthem, accompanied by the Central band, directed by Mr. Daryl Ingram.
Mr. Ingram then led the elementary students in performing “Colonel Bogey’s Grand Ole Flag.” Student emcees then welcomed the guest speaker for the program, Tech Sergeant Bryan Blakely. Tsgt Blakely has served in the U.S. military for 19 years as a Navy Seabee and instructor. Blakely separated from the military for almost two decades, but then reenlisted after 9/11 and is currently serving with Air National Guard.
The audience was then treated to a PowerPoint that featured veterans, past and present, from Coosa County who have served in the U.S. military. The choir sang “God Bless the U.S.A.,” and the students recited the poem “Veterans Day” by Cheryl Dyson.
The band closed out the program by playing the service medleys, with veterans standing as their respective service medley was played. A reception was held after the program to honor the veterans and their families. Thank you to SGA members who served as greeters and servers.
Also last Friday, students at the high school participated in a Veterans Day education activity in their history classes, led by SGA members Lamiya Harrison, Traci Cox and Aerial Green.
Traci, who attended Army Basic Training this summer, is already a Private in the U.S. Army and was recently elected as Central High School SGA president by the student and the staff. After showing a brief video on the history of Veterans Day and an inspirational video, CHS students wrote letters of thanks to veterans and created poppy flowers to decorate their letters.
The letters were taken to the Bill Nichols Veterans Home by SGA member Harper Elliott as part of her Central Express project.
Thank you to all our veterans who were able to attend, as well as those who were not able to attend; we are thankful for your service and the opportunity to honor you.
