By DEB BENTLY
Staff Writer
NRHEG students in grades 3 through 12 attended a program honoring veterans in the secondary school gym on Friday, Nov. 10. Twenty or more members of area veterans’ organizations attended as a group; prior to the start of the program, they were presented with thank you cards handmade by elementary students. Other community veterans attended and sat among the audience.
The New Richland American Legion Color Guard posted the national and state flags, after which the crowd recited the “Pledge of Allegiance.” All were then invited to join the full, grade 7 to 12 choir and band to sing the national anthem.
The program was planned cooperatively by the High School Ambassadors organization, led by teacher Holly Pederson, and the secondary music department, led by choir director Krista Reeder and band director Seth Schaefer.
The purpose of the program, according to the planners, was to recognize and thank area veterans for their service while helping heighten student awareness of the concept that “freedom isn’t free.”
Ambassadors Evelyn Nydegger, Payton Bunn, Chloe Riewer, Madeline Schlaak, Izley Boerner, Kylie Olson, Clara Buendorf, Tayler Schmidt, and Kayden Warke, Chloe Stork and Sierra Fish took various roles in the program, including acting as emcee, providing patriotic readings, and demonstrating the traditional triangular military folding of the flag.
Among the numbers performed During the program was a “United States Armed Forces Salute,” which included easily recognized excerpts of the official song from each of the branches of the American military. As each was played, veterans in the crowd who served in that branch were invited to stand and be recognized.