Area veterans honored at Gravette schools

GRAVETTE — A dozen veterans were recognized at the Gravette High School Veterans’ Assembly held Monday morning in the Performing Arts Center.

The annual ceremony is sponsored and coordinated by the Student Council, and Carson Alsup, president of the organization, was emcee for the event.

Presentation of Colors by Tyler Homer and Kelly Lang was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence led by Cody Robinson. The GHS band, directed by James Hendrix, played the nation’s anthem, followed by Emily Vue, student council vice president, who read the Presidential Proclamation.

Shelly O’Dell, choir director, led the GHS select choir in “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “America the Beautiful” and “Give Us Hope”; and the GHS forensics team, directed by Ian Galloway, presented the Veterans Day Readers Theater.

A rousing performance of “On Parade” by the GHS band, “Taps,” performed by Adrian Holland, and closing remarks by Carson Alsup ended the 45-minute program.

Prior to the program, the honorees were served refreshments prepared by Seanne Sain’s GHS culinary arts class.

Middle School Program

More than 60 area veterans of various military services were featured in a video slide show at the Gravette Middle School Veterans Day assembly Monday afternoon. Heldin the competition gymnasium, the event was a project of the Builder’s Club.

Tyler Homer and Kelly Land, who posted the colors at the high school assembly, performed that duty, followed by the playing of the Star Spangled Banner by the middle school band, directed by Mark Hendrick.

Dustin Morris recited a prayer and the band, accompanied by the choir, which assembled almost the length of the basketball court, presented a memorable rendition of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

Sydney King introduced Marine Lt. Col. Bob Grass, a faculty member who has served for many years. His last assignment was in Afghanistan. Shannon Perry recognized more than a dozen veterans inthe audience who had met earlier in the lunchroom.

A History Channel video, “The Story of Veterans Day,” traced the historyof the observance which was first called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. It became known as Veterans Day after World War II to honor all veterans.