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Retired Navy Seaman 1st Class Billy Hartzog, right, attended the Helena Middle School Veterans Day ceremony with his daughter Cathy Dobbins and great grandson Andrew Dobbins on Wednesday, Nov. 7. (Reporter Photo/Graham Brooks)

By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA – Helena Middle School turned into a place of thanks and remembrance the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 7, as local veterans were honored in the schools’ gymnasium with a special Veterans Day ceremony.

Words such as “courage,” “bravery,” “heroes,” and “sacrifice,” were mentioned to describe the dozens of Veterans who sat front and center on the gym floor as the student led assembly featured poems, several songs played by the HMS band and choir, a special introduction, recognition of veterans and more.

“I’d like to say thank you to all of you for your service, your dedication and your selflessness,” HMS seventh grade social studies teacher Mark Sanders said. “Yesterday, as my wife and I went to vote at our voting place at a church, and as we walked in, there were people of different backgrounds and different beliefs and we sat down at the same table and exercised that right. It was such a warm and friendly environment while we were there, and I’m sure that everyone here will join me in thanking you for defending that and keeping that for all of us.”

This sentiment drew a standing ovation as HMS held the Veterans Day ceremony one day following the general election vote on Nov. 6, and four days prior to the observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The highlight of the ceremony included the recognition of each branch of the United States Armed Forces. The Marine Corps, Army, Coast Guard, Air Force and Navy were all recognized and after each flag was displayed at mid-court, the HMS band played the song of each branch and each veteran of the particular branch stood to be recognized.

Other highlights of the ceremony featured a solo performance of “God Bless the U.S.A.,” the playing of “America the Beautiful,” by the HMS band and an American soldier video tribute depicting each veteran, years they served, branch and awards they may have received.

Retired Navy Seaman 1^st Class Billy Hartzog, who served from 1945-46, attended the celebration with his daughter Cathy Dobbins and great grandson Andrew Dobbins, a sixth grader at Helena Middle School.

“It’s a fabulous program and very inspirational,” Hartzog said at the reception following the ceremony. “It’s absolutely wonderful to see this school system instilling the sense of patriotism and appreciation for their past. The school system is to be sincerely congratulated for these kinds of programs.”

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