Onaway honors veterans

Onaway community residents honored the veterans of America?s conflicts in a celebration conducted at Onaway Area Community Schools Tuesday. The festivities began with a parade through the school by the children of the elementary school who spent several weeks preparing for the parade. Carrying patriotic banners, waving flags, and dressed in red, white, and blue costumes, the students made their way from the elementary through the junior high, and to the high school gym.

Community members, parents, students, and teachers squeezed into the gym. The bleachers were filled with the awesome crowd. There was only standing room left, and not much of that. Organizer/teacher Penny James opened the ceremonies by welcoming the crowd. ?I look forward to this each year, what an honor these kids do for us,? said James. She then handed the microphone to the Rev. Chris Rasper. The audience bowed their heads as Rasper presented an opening prayer to our fallen heroes.

Miss Onaway 2003, Jessica Havel, sent chills up and down the people?s spines as she sang the ?Star Spangled Banner? accompanied on the piano by Thomas-Aaron Price. Specialist Leon Nash from the 3rd Brigade Armored Division awed the crowd as he spoke of his time in Iraq. ?The hottest it got was around 120-130 degrees. It kind of broke my heart to see off in a distance people living in huts. Nothing has changed since biblical times. Sheep and camel herders trying to find grass for their animals…the little kids along the road asking for money,? said Nash. Onaway High School Band did a fantastic job, playing ?America the Beautiful,? directed by Larry Schafer. All was quiet as Amber Anderson presented a poem she wrote, ?Soldier?s Applause.?

Third grader Ellie McLellan thrilled the audience by singing ?God Bless the USA.? She received a standing ovation. ?That little girl really can sing. What a great ceremony,? said James. Seventh graders Stephanie Richards, Hayley O?Meara, Jennifer Schoolcraft, and Anissa Goit recited ?Tribute to All Veterans.? Members of VFW Post 5857 were present to participate in the celebration. Newly-elected city commissioner Mel Perkins wowed the crowd by singing ?America the Beautiful.? Commander Ray Roberson with other veterans from George Garms VFW Post 5857 and the Ladies Auxiliary conducted their service in honor of fallen comrades in arms. ?Taps? was played by Marilynn Ellenberger and Joe Bednark for the fallen soldiers.

?Some of us remember when today was called ?Armistice Day? to honor the veterans of World War I. But a shoe store owner in Kansas, named Al King, had an idea. He called it ?All Veterans Day,? said Roberson. According to Roberson, King, along with his local chamber of commerce, pushed a bill through Congres

s to change the name. On May 26, 1954 president Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill into law, calling it Veterans Day. James asked all veterans on staff at OACS and in the audience to stand to be recognized to the delight of the crowd, who gave them a big round of applause. OACS superintendent Robert Szymoniak presented an ?Ode to William Nolde? who served his country in the Vietnam War. ?Eleven hours before the cease fire deadline, January 27, 1973, Col. William B. Nolde was listed as the last U.S. casualty combat death,? said Szymoniak. Barry Fitzpatrick assembled and presented a slide show honoring local veterans.

Onaway mayor Gary Wregglesworth gave a speech on ?It is the Veteran,? followed by the audience singing ?This Land is Your Land.? Penny James expressed her gratitude for everyone coming and asked to ?Thank a veteran today…and every day,? she said.

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