Veterans honored by students
Veterans day is Friday, and in honor of the day, one student at Firth High School made it his senior project to remember and show support towards local veterans and fallen heroes.
Over 100 war veterans and their families attended the school’s presentation, wherein students honored each veteran with a rose and a handshake. One by one men and woman stood up and accepted the gift of appreciation.
During the ceremony, audience ears were filled with the sound of traditional military music.
Gary Eckhardt brought is stepfather U.S.Navy Veteran Jim Echhardt to the event and said it’s important to their family to recognize veterans not once a year, but all year.
“I have a picture of him when he served in the Navy and in 1946, as a young radio man, on a ship off of China just after World War II,” Eckhardt said.
The picture is in black and white and captures a time when his stepfather was a young Navy man.
Eckhardt said that Veterans Day reminds people that freedom comes at a price.”We defend our freedoms and our rights with war. We have to have a strong standing army, and that’s what we have.”
Lyndon Hall, who is a Marine Veteran and served in Vietnam, came to the veterans celebration and said he couldn’t help but think about the election and the protests that are going on in different states. “The election is over now, it’s time to come together and heal the hostility.”
High school senior Trevor Killpack said he’s senior project wasn’t just about a grade.
“Proud, if I had to pick one word, I would pick proud. I’m proud of the community. Proud of my country that we live in and proud of the veterans that have sacrificed so much for us and have given up everything that they have for us,” Trevor said.
Trevor adds that he’s thankful, saying,”I’m fortunate to live in a free country thanks to our vets.”
He also adds that he didn’t want this day to be over shadowed by negativity following the 2016 presidential election.
“The United States of America, we are all free and we all have different opinions and we have that right. But we need to come together for the love that we have for this country. We need to serve our veterans and serve the United States of America,” Killpack said.
Student Devon Christensen, who attended the event, said Veterans Day is especially difficult for him. His grandfather who passed away, served as U.S. Air Force Veteran, and he wanted to honor him.
“This day makes me feel like I should be doing more for veterans. Since they’re fighting for my life, I just feel like I want to appreciate them,” Christensen said.
