Elgin School celebrates our veterans

The fresh, smooth faces of the children were a counterpoint to the seasoned veterans who joined together to celebrate Veterans Day at the Elgin School Tuesday morning, Nov. 10. Cub Scouts greeted visitors and handed out programs while the Fort Huachuca 36th Army band played the Star Spangled Banner.

The Huachuca Select Honor Guard posted the colors to begin the ceremony and the kindergarten class led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Superintendent Judy Neal welcomed the attendees and thanked the groups that made the ceremony possible.

After a choral production by the schoolchildren, who all wore patriotic bandanas and held small American flags there were brief comments by Wess Chambers, who asked the audience to remember our wounded veterans.

The guest speaker, retired U.S Navy veteran Lee Vellom, spoke of his experiences serving on nuclear submarines during the Cold War. Having commanded the U.S.S. Lewis and Clark, he attends a bi-annual reunion for the men who have served on this sub. “The reason we do this,” he said,” is to always remember that the adventure is over, but the memories remain.”

Joe Furno and Foster Drummond presented an award from American Legion Post 113 to Joyce Taylor, an Air Force veteran who tended wounded Vietnam veterans while stationed in Japan. Taylor, the first woman to join Post 113, recounted her experiences. The wounded soldiers “became your brothers and your sons,” she said.

Awards to the Elgin School essay and poster contest winners followed. The winners of the poster contest received $25 from the American Legion, and the essay winners each received $50, also donated by the lpost. The essay winners received a 15-minute helicopter flight donated by Air Vac, as well.

The poster contest winners were Nazario Herrera, kindergarten; Ila Barker, 1st grade’ Lillia Patterson, 2nd grade; and Hannah Rogers, 3rd grade.

The essay contest winners were Clay Kahla, 4th grade; Wesley Koweek, 5th grade; Rosa Graham 6th grade; Nathan Lindsey, 7th grade; and Alyssa Graham, 8th grade.

A service medley played by the Fort Huachuca band acknowledged the veterans in the audience by service branch and a moment of silence honored the memory of two local veterans, Alex Gonzales and Mickey McArthur, as well as the fallen soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas.

The playing of Taps was punctuated by the crackling of the flags in the wind, evoking personal memories of all who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

After the ceremony, brunch was served in the school gym. A Wall of Honor had been assembled on one side of the gym to recognize local veterans. A Missing Man table was set up to symbolize those who were no longer with us, and posters and displays were set up throughout the room to commemorate veterans. In front of the school a model submarine, two tanks and a Border Patrol display were set up.

Richard Crane, a WW II vet wearing a beat up WW I hat, said that he wore that hat “Because it is the only thing I own that’s older than I am.” He served in the horse-drawn field artillery at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Later, he joined the Navy and became a photographer’s mate.

Derek Kinney, a Korean War vet, attended the ceremony. An Englishman, he was captured and escaped several times from the North Koreans. For his valor he was awarded the George Cross by Queen Elizabeth. He moved to the United States and settled in Tucson. He is the only American to hold this award. Only 39 people hold this award worldwide. Every two years, the Queen of Engalnd honors these heroes in a ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

Alyssa Graham, in her essay, captured the feelings of all who were present. “From the very beginning of the United States, our veterans have fought whole-heartedly for our country so that we may be free from generation to generation. We should all be thankful for their loyalty to this great country.”