Sun staff
New Richmond Middle School students honored veterans Nov. 7 during an annual ceremony.
The program began with an educational power point video that highlighted the history of wars the United States was involved in and the impact of the wars.
Students and guests listened to patriotic songs performed by members of the middle school choir and the band.
Ralph Shepherd, a United States Marine Corps veteran, helped organized the program and introduced veterans who attended the event.
Each veteran was able to tell students what military branch they belonged to, where they served and who they knew at the school.
“I thought it was great,” Joe Burns, a United States Army veteran from New Richmond, said about the program.
Burnes said it was his first time attending the ceremony.
Carl Martineck, a United States Navy veteran, also from New Richmond, said he enjoyed the program as well.
Martineck said he has been able to speak to and work with the children at New Richmond before.
Students who attended the ceremony were able to learn and also participate.
Madeline Walls and Chloe Closterman, both seventh-grade choir members, said they enjoyed performing for the veterans.
“We want to thank them for what they’ve done for us,” Walls said. “They made us a free country.”
Walls’ grandfather Phil Zook also attended the ceremony.
“I like how they all came up and said what they did,” Closterman said about the veterans’ participation. “It’s for the veterans and they actually got to speak this year. It’s important to thank people for serving our country.”
New Richmond schools and the village of New Richmond will have several other Veterans Day events including breakfasts at each elementary school and a Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11. Breakfasts will all begin at 8 a.m. and will be held at Monroe Elementary Nov. 8, Locust Corner Elementary Nov. 9 and New Richmond Elementary Nov. 12.
The Veterans Day ceremony in New Richmond will be held at the memorial on Front Street at 5 p.m. Nov. 11.