Veterans Day festivities honor local war heroes
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Two veterans share a handshake as they listen to the marching band's performance of the Air Force anthem during the Veterans Day assembly Nov. 10.
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 More than 50 veterans and their guests joined the LCHS community on Nov. 10 for a Veterans Day pre-party. The morning began with breakfast and a guest speaker, followed by an hour-long, school-wide assembly.
Veterans were introduced one-by-one by Cheryl Cox, director of guidance and instruction, following a brief welcome from Principal Jim McKay. Veterans walked to their chairs in the middle of the gymnasium floor to the applause of students and staff.
The chamber choir sang the national anthem, and social studies teacher Curt Onstad, himself a veteran, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Captain John W. Peterson presented a speech entitled "Service to Our Nation, Honor, Courage, and Commitment." Six students then presented their award-winning poems. The English Department received about 70 submissions for the second annual Veterans Day poetry contest. Winners included freshmen Sara Webster and Adrianna Rajwa, sophomore DesNeige Della-Peruta, juniors Callie Bretthauer and Jessica David, and senior Rachel White.
The event concluded with the marching band's medley of the various military branch theme songs, senior Jackie Ward's rendition of John McCrae's "In Flander's Fields," and a multimedia presentation depicting pictures of veterans who are related to LCHS students and staff. Bretthauer and senior Anthony Ward also played a "Taps" duet.
For some classes, the celebration continued throughout the day with appearances from veteran guest speakers.
"The speakers throughout the day allowed the social studies classes to experience a variety of things," said Rebecca Holst, Social Studies Department leader. "All the veterans were answering questions and giving personal accounts of their service."
There is no student attendance on Tuesday, Nov. 11 for Veterans Day.
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