Leakey ISD Students and Staff Honor Area Veterans on Wednesday, November 11, 2009
by Leakey ISD Webmaster
November 15, 2009
11/16/2009-News Release-Leakey Independent School District-Fred R. McNiel, Superintendent
Leakey ISD Students and Staff Honor Area Veterans on Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Seventy-five veterans attended and participated in a Veteran’s Day Program that is annually produced and conducted by members of the Leakey ISD National Honor Society (NHS) and the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). NHS and NJHS sponsor Beth Manglberger, along with co-sponsor Karen Kurz, assisted the students in organizing and conducting this special event. Leakey ISD has been producing this event for nearly fifteen years and according to Beth Manglberger, this is the largest group of veterans to participate! Most of the veterans reside in Leakey; however, there were also veterans from other communities attending as well.
The veterans started arriving on campus at 8:45 a.m. and registered first with NHS students inside the Leakey ISD teacher workroom. By registering, the veteran was insured that his/her name would be called when the roll call was conducted later during the service. After registering, the veterans enjoyed coffee and other refreshments prepared by the mothers of the NHS and NJHS students.
At approximately 9:45 a.m. the veterans marched into the LISD gymnasium behind the color guard composed of Leakey veterans, Bill Crosby and Bill Cockrell. The Leakey ISD band, seated on the stage, and under the direction of Rick Austin, played “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. The veterans and their family members were seated on chairs that had been placed at the center of the basketball court. All students, staff and guests were seated in the gymnasium bleachers.
After the Presentation of Colors, Sarah Rubio led the invocation followed by the playing of the national anthem performed by the Leakey Eagle Band. Kati Young then led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and NHS President, Nicole Clark welcomed the guests. The elementary chorus composed of students in kindergarten through grade five then sang a medley of patriotic songs that included: “This Land is Your Land”, “America”, and “You’re A Grand Old Flag”.
The Leakey High School Choir, again under the direction of Rick Austin, sang the five military anthems honoring the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. The service members of each branch of the Armed Forces stood at attention while the choir sang their particular anthem. The choir members included: Sarah Rubio, Heather Jones, Alyssa Cave, Zoe Davis, Kendra Bingham, Jennifer Martin and Jamie Petronella. After the military anthems were sung a special video presentation explained to the assembled guests who veterans are and why they deserve our thanks and appreciation!
After the special video presentation was shown two fourth graders and two fifth graders read poems that they had written honoring America’s veterans. Fourth graders Sidney Richey and Satera Perez and fifth graders Quinten Pigg and Parker Ray were selected for this honor based on the fact that they had submitted the best poems in their respective classrooms. Hannah Windham and Leah Carrillo then conducted the roll call and each veteran stood when their name was called. After all veterans were introduced they received the applause of the guests who honored their military service.
Michael Mack, a Leakey ISD sophomore and a member of the Leakey Eagle Band then played taps as all veterans and guests stood in honor and memory of the many veterans who have already passed from this life on earth. The Retirement of Colors was conducted as veterans marched out of the gymnasium to the thunderous applause of an appreciative community who stood to honor and thank the veterans for their very courageous service in the United States Armed Forces.
Next year the Veteran’s Day Program will be held on Thursday, November 11th, 2010 in the Lloyd Buttler gymnasium and all community members are encouraged to attend and help honor the veterans of our community!