Veterans Day Assembly 2018
By: Hannah Niederriter and Dylan Lu 11/9/18
Photography By AJ Howard
Veterans Day is of great importance, so there were several significant musical events during Cranberry’s assembly to commemorate this occasion. Senior High band along with some members of Junior High band, accompanied by Junior and Senior high chorus, performed each branch of the armed forces’ songs among others such as old battle hymns and other patriotic songs. Darien Wenner, a third-grader at Cranberry Elementary School, even graced the audience with her solo of “American Tears,” which ultimately brought the spectators to their feet for a standing ovation.
Throughout the other events, several students from Mrs. Mathews’s 10th and 8th grade English classes read poetry they spent the last month perfecting. These heartfelt and often bittersweet poems invoked mixed emotions, primarily grief, love, gratefulness, and interestingly enough, pride for our great nation.
Mrs. Matthews expressed, “I am very pleased with my students because they wrote from the heart. That’s what makes poetry effective.”
These works often discussed wearisome topics such as missing your family, losing your son, or making the difficult decision to travel overseas to serve your country. Others overviewed more symbolic issues, most notably, our flag and what it means to each individual.
Additionally, it was an honor for Cranberry High School to introduce Senator Scott Hutchinson, a speaker who elaborated on his views of veterans. He was humbled to have the opportunity to orate to us on this special day.
During his speech, he mentioned that, ¨Every veteran, every team member, should be proud of his or her service.¨
He also addressed that, despite not serving, his father did, and he remembered how difficult it was. He recalled how his father would never want to talk about his service, yet he was still proud of the fact that he did aid his country and do his part to preserve the freedom and rights that this nation was established to secure.
In order to make this assembly a success, various people and classes contributed and were specifically recognized. This year’s second annual Cranberry Alumni Award went to U.S. Army Master Sergeant Paul Allaman, who joined the Army right out of high school and became one of the first soldiers to fight in Iraq during the campaign to remove Saddam Hussein from power and end his reign of terror.
Art 2, 3, and 4 classes as well as Mrs. Smith’s Family Consumer Science class provided decorations along with sweet delectables for all to take pleasure in. Along the same lines, posters adorn the walls in the commons thanks to the many homeroom classes who participated in the patriotic poster contest.
Veterans, people who lay down their lives to protect us and surrender a normal family life for the responsibility of maintaining the freedom of our country, are critical to the prospering of America. There is no way for us citizens to properly express our gratitude, but there are efforts we can put forward to protect what are soldiers are so valiantly fighting for. Continue to be respectful, helpful, and kind. Offer a hand when possible, and don’t forget to honor those who sacrifice for our freedom.
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