High school and junior high celebrate Veterans Day

The Student Councils of the Breckenridge High School and Breckenridge Junior High carried out a salute to the local veterans Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Breckenridge ISD Athletic and Fine Arts Center. The BJHS STUCO is led by faculty member Kim Walker, who organized the program with the help from the BHS STUCO advisor Amanda Farmer.

Initially, the local scouts, from Girl Scout Troop 8356, Cub Scout Pack 81 and Boy Scout Troop 63, lined both sides of the pathway for the veterans to be escorted into the gym by Student Council members from both schools.

The Honor Guard from the American Volunteer Reserve (AVR) led by Senior Chief Les Strickland, with Capt. Eddie Renfro, General Knox Bishop and Col. Larry Hamilton ‘Posted the Colors’ with the American and Texas flags. Two students, Keeton Ragle and Samantha Heatley, representing their respective STUCO, led the pledges to the American and Texas flags.

The combined audience from South Elementary, Breckenridge Junior High and Breckenridge High School were treated to the National Anthem being sung by two BHS students, Avery Rogers and Anna Kate Rogers. The South Elementary Singers sang “America the Beautiful,” directed by Shonda Wood.

That was followed by the BHS Band playing a medley of military tunes relevant to a particular service. As that service song was played, those veterans in that branch stood up. Five of the veterans and two of the Honor Guard stood when “Anchors Away” was played for the U.S. Navy. That included three women veterans. There was one U.S. Marine, one from the U.S.›Army and one of the Honor Guard from the U.S. Air Force.

The BJHS Principal Mary Perkins gave a special recognition to honor the vets and then recognized three BHS students who will be going into the military after graduation.

Afterwards, the First Baptist Church Youth Praise Team sang “Death was Arrested,” under the direction of Shonda Wood. There were four girls from BHS and one young man from BHS.

At this point, Walker directed the audiences’ attention to the table set with fine China and wine glasses. With the help of the BJHS STUCO members, they proceeded to go through the “Table” ceremony honoring the veterans who had made the ultimate sacrifice. There was a dress hat placed on the table to represent each of the five military services. Shonda Wood then took the floor to sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which was widely applauded by the audience.

That performance was followed by two of the Honor Guard performing the flag folding ceremony while another of the Honor Guard explained the significance of each of the 13 folds of the flag. Then the flag was presented to Walker, who had loaned their father’s flag for the morning program. Her sister, Connie Robbins was also in the audience along with other family members.

That performance was followed by BHS Science teacher Anthony Kelly, who sang a rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless America.”

At that point, two members of the American Volunteer Reserve (AVR) Honor Guard “Posted the Colors” or retired the American and Texas flags.

Two members of the BHS Band, Payton Russell and Mason Woolsley, played taps to close the program.

The entire program was conducted by many of the BISD youth from the two STUCO organizations at BHS and BJHS and others from the Breckenridge community.