Veterans Day

                                         The 5th grade chorus sings "American Tears"                                                                                                                       Keynote speaker Lieutenant Colonel Melissa Sanders

By: Elizabeth Sutherland

Every year on Veterans Day, schools usually take the day off from learning, but not in Princeville! PJSHS prides itself on being in session on this holiday to celebrate the ones who sacrificed themselves for this country. The annual Veterans Day program was held on Friday, November 11 in the PHS gym. 

Honoring local veterans has been a long running tradition at PJSHS, and this year was nothing short of a great program! PHS students Brinae Rice, Elizabeth Sutherland (me!), Josie Benningfield, and Ted Fritzenmeier all delivered speeches and recognized veterans from around the Princeville area. Our program is very unique because of the way that we announce all of the veterans in the audience to make each and every one of them feel honored. Junior high students Claire Sutherland, Bella Duckworth, and Paisley Hughes were also selected to give handwritten speeches titled “An Ode to a Veteran.” Following the speeches, the highschool band performed the Armed Forces Medley, and the 5th grade chorus sang “American Tears” for the audience. 

Special guest Lieutenant Colonel Melissa Sayers, a 2000 Princeville graduate, was invited to give a speech about her time in the service. She served in the United States Army for 22 years, and completed many incredible feats in that time. LTC Sayers completed helicopter flight school and flew Blackhawk helicopters for 10 years, being deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. As a result, she earned the Air Medal and Meritorious Service Medal. Sayers acknowledged the importance of veterans in our society in her speech, and encouraged audience members to always honor our veterans. 

Putting this program together every year is no small task, so a huge thank you goes out to Mrs. Kelly Jenkins, Mrs. Rachel Bowermaster, the PHS Tech Department, and the Mass Communications students for making it possible! A lot of prep work goes into making everything run smoothly. Getting to speak in this program was a huge honor for me because Veterans Day holds a special place in my heart. Both of my grandfathers were Army vets, and getting to see their faces in the audience when I announced their names was the best celebration of this holiday that I could ask for. I think it is safe to say that Princeville does Veteran’s Day the right way!