Current Events

Celebrating Our Veterans

Written by: Drozd, Ava - Reporter

December 9, 2024

On Thursday, November 7th, PAHS honored and remembered the lives of veterans during their annual Veterans Day assembly. The day’s events began with the pole ceremony that took place in front of the school.

First the student body surrounded the pole and began their honoring through the pledge of allegiance. Natalie Elliot, a PAHS senior who completed basic training during the summer of 2020 and has officially joined the National Guard, had the honor of raising the flag, signifying her dedication as a U.S. enlist. As the flag was raised, the PAHS Choir sang the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Once the pole ceremony concluded, the festivities continued in the auditorium with the assembly to pay respects to our veterans. The assembly was led by PAHS senior Avary Powell. Her speech began with the question: “How do you honor a legend?” She then recounted her time attending a week-long program at the USNA called “Summer Seminar” and the many feelings she felt while visiting the U.S. Naval Academy’s Memorial Hall. Powell delivered her words with grace and poise, truly showing what it means to respect your veterans.

Powell paid her respects to the “fallen veterans” as she walked through the memorial hall. She illustrated the moment, saying, “Silence was the only thing spoken.” She described how visiting this memorial was a humbling experience and described it as a “sacred place.” Powell concluded her speech by thanking the veterans and acknowledging each and every one of them for their many sacrifices and accomplishments, saying, “The veterans sitting here in the front row are legends.” The speech ended with an accommodating applause from the student body.

Powell then had the honor of introducing Congressman Glen Thompson, who lives in Howard PA. Prior to his election to “Pennsylvania's geographically largest congressional district,” he was a therapist, rehabilitation service manager and a licensed nursing home administrator. This has resulted in him becoming a “strong advocate for increased access, affordability, quality of care and patient choice.”  He has been a part of Eagle Scouts and a 30+ year veteran of the Juniata Boy Scout Council, served as co- chairman of the Bipartisan Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus and has served as a community leader and a volunteer firefighter for more than three decades. 

Thompson then gave a speech that advocated and spread awareness for veterans’ healthcare and their legacy. “Heroes are the ones that wear military uniforms,” Thompson said. 

Thompson opened up to the student body and talked about his “pride and worry” of being a military dad. Towards the end of his speech, he says with dignity and respect, “Our veterans are pillars across the state of Pennsylvania.” 

The veterans and Thompson were invited to a breakfast provided by students of PAHS. Students Avary Powell, Lydia Miller, Keagan Neufeld and Jael Miller also led Thompson on a tour of the school.

To conclude the Veterans Day assembly, I had the honor to interview local veteran Bob Lott. Lott served in the air force for four years (from 1971-1975) and is from Punxsutawney, PA.

“I was enlisted. I was in the very first draft lottery, I thought it was fair since I was a low number (68), so I was drafted pretty early on,” Lott says. He also added how he was “the first name on the Jefferson County list” for the draft lottery.

Lott was stationed at what they called “The ‘Pride Award’ right outside of Lexington, Kentucky.” He talked of his job and duties while in the air force. “I worked in Ground Radar. I went to Kentucky and in the states we did what was practiced in Bombers.”

Ground radar is used for air defense and air traffic control. “I would press a button to show exactly where the plane was in distance to the bomb,” Lott explained. 

Lott then elaborated on his time serving in the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Thailand. “95% of the bombing in the Vietnam War was Ground Radar. I bet my bombing was what saved the war.” He talked with fulfillment and showed what it truly means to be a proud American veteran.