Veterans Day

Both the Waseca Intermediate School (WIS) and the Waseca Junior Senior High School held heartfelt Veterans Day programs on Tuesday, Nov. 11. At the WIS, colors were presented by members of the Waseca Sweet-Sommers VFW post 1642; at the high school, colors were carried by members of Waseca American Legion post 228.

 

Principal John Huttemier opened the WIS proceedings with the posting of the colors and asked everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The VFW sent their members carrying flags to silently cross the gym floor in front of the audience, then march toward the middle of the room where they stood like sentinels keeping watch as every member of the audience took off their head gear and placed hands on hearts; the flags stayed as motionless as the VFW members holding them. Sixth-grade teacher Chad Atherton recited a poem titled, “I am the Flag” by Jamie Burns. Then Huttmeier read a brief history of Veterans Day. The Sixth-grade choir sang their rendition of “America, The Beautiful” directed by music teacher Andra Andreen, followed by a moment of silence before Taps was played. The VFW members silently carried the flags out of the gym: Color guard members were Blaine Brooks, Chris Weber, Darnel Anderson, James Britton, Chad Davis, Grant Duffy, Dean Farley, Gary Huckfeldt, Mike Peterson and Dave Schema.

 

The High School posted colors by the Waseca Legion and Auxiliary Color Guard with a welcome from principal Justin Johnson. The Legion silently marched to the center of the gym before taking a stand in the back between the  Select Choir and the Marching Band. Senior Class Delegate Andres Vasquez led the room in the Pledge of Allegiance before the band played the Star-Spangled Banner. Choral music instructor Megan Kreinbring directed the WHS Select Choir in Taps before veteran speaker Rue Sticha, told about her brother, a military veteran who died honorably in action. There was a special Veterans Salute by the band that included banners and flags displayed by JH Student Council Members Regan Barr, Lillian Whitesitt, Olivia Hagen, Jordan Rosenthal, KynAdi Glover, Alexander Henry, Teagan Neidecker, Taelyn Nowak, Jade Rice, Caiden Scheller, Linday Bergdale, Ashlynn Lopez, Gracelyn O’Malley, and Olivia Brunner.

 

The Waseca Legion and Auxiliary Color Guard were Kari Priebe, Cheryl Frear, Karla Scherff, Cindy Dickie, Kevin Dickie, Barry Hagey, and Jodi Winkleman.