by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Wanting to thank veterans for their service, Kennedy Community School students, faculty and staff celebrated local veterans and their families Nov. 10 during an all-school assembly to honor Veterans Day.
School Principal Laurie Putnam said almost 50 veterans attended the event. They shared memories of their service time, which included those who served in the 1950s to those currently serving.
Music teacher Kristen Bauer directed students in second, fourth and fifth grades in singing patriotic songs to the veterans.
Assistant Principal Anna Willhite welcomed families to the event. She also shared her own personal connections to military service as the wife of a veteran.
Veterans and their families were invited to celebrate with warm cinnamon rolls, lemon-poppy-seed bread, bananas, juice and coffee.
All school families, even those not connected to the military, were invited to the event.
More than 100 people attended the celebration.
“It is our honor to celebrate our community’s veterans and their families for the sacrifices they made to protect our freedoms,” Putnam said. “Kennedy Community School extends our sincere thanks to all who have and currently are serving in the armed forces.”
Surrounded by other students, Kennedy first-graders (left to right) Brynn Hiltner and Aliyah Kuseske hold a “thank you” poster for veterans at the school’s Nov. 10 veterans celebration.
Surrounded by other students with additional “thank you” cards, Kennedy Community School first-graders Samuel Cotton and Lacey Kipka hold a “thank you” poster for veterans at the school’s Nov. 10 veterans celebration.
Kennedy Community School third-grader Owen Ritten (back) and second-grader Jemma Voigt give “thank you” notes to veterans at the school’s Nov. 10 celebration.
Veteran Kevin Funk shares his service experience Nov. 10 at the Kennedy Community School veterans celebration. Funk’s son, Justin, is an eighth-grader at the school and his wife, Pam, works as a paraprofessional at the school.
