Lisbon high school students honor veterans
Lisbon area veterans pay their respects to the flag during the National Anthem on Veterans Day at Lisbon David Anderson Jr./Sr. High School. Students hosted their annual Veterans Day program Wednesday, following the theme “Honoring their service, remembering their sacrifice.” (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Lisbon David Anderson High School senior Ariel Dickey plays “Taps” on Veterans Day. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
David Anderson High School graduate and U.S. Army veteran Glenn McMillan serves as the guest speaker for the Veterans Day program at his alma mater in Lisbon, telling students about values such as duty, honor, respect, loyalty, courage and selfless sacrifice. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
U.S. Navy veteran John Applegate of Lisbon talks about his service as submariner and the lessons he learned that stayed with him for life. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Lisbon area veterans pay their respects to the flag during the National Anthem on Veterans Day at Lisbon David Anderson Jr./Sr. High School. Students hosted their annual Veterans Day program Wednesday, following the theme “Honoring their service, remembering their sacrifice.” (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
Lisbon David Anderson High School senior Ariel Dickey plays “Taps” on Veterans Day. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
David Anderson High School graduate and U.S. Army veteran Glenn McMillan serves as the guest speaker for the Veterans Day program at his alma mater in Lisbon, telling students about values such as duty, honor, respect, loyalty, courage and selfless sacrifice. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
U.S. Navy veteran John Applegate of Lisbon talks about his service as submariner and the lessons he learned that stayed with him for life. (Photo by Mary Ann Greier)
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David Anderson High School senior Sarah Thompson said it's "to appreciate the veterans in our community."
Thompson was just one of the many students who planned, produced and took part in the annual Veterans Day program held in the auditorium, an effort done through their social studies classes headed by teacher Ron Whitman. Thompson's father, Todd Thompson, is a U.S. Navy veteran and she said a lot of her family members served.
She said being part of the Veterans Day program to honor veterans "makes me emotional and makes me feel proud. I think it's important because they sacrificed so much for us, they were away from home and everything."
DAHS Principal Keith Edenfield said the whole event is student-driven, similar to an event the school hosted for 9/11. He said the takeaway for the students is "to understand the importance of thanking veterans and the impact veterans service have in their everyday lives."
Justin Madison, who lives, works and grew up in Lisbon, is a U.S. Navy veteran and commander of the John J. Welsh American Legion Post 275 in Lisbon. He was one of the veterans introduced during the program.
"We as veterans hope that the service continues for generations to come so people in our community can continue the dream of living free," he said.
As a Lisbon grad attending the Veterans Day assembly, he said, "I couldn't be more proud of the students of Lisbon," adding he hopes they continue doing programs like this.
School Resource Officer William Hewitt of the Lisbon Police Department, a veteran of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, said the Veterans Day event is a good way to give back to the men and woman who served and to show respect.
The theme of this year's Veterans Day program was "Honoring Their Service, Remembering Their Sacrifice." The DAHS band played "America the Beautiful" and "You're a Grand Old Flag," students talked about the meaning of Veterans Day, the National Anthem was played as veterans and students payed their respects to the flag, two videos produced by students were shown, student read the poem she wrote and "Taps" was played to close out the program. Two Lisbon veterans spoke to the students, U.S. Navy veteran and submariner John Applegate and guest speaker U.S. Army veteran Glenn McMillan.
Applegate explained the history of submarines in combat and about his own experience servicing on a submarine, saying that for submariners killed in action, "we say they're still on patrol."
He said serving on a submarine is special and submariners learn to depend on each other and that every job matters. Being a submarine veteran evokes pride at taking part in something bigger than yourself, it means friendship and brotherhood, responsibility and gratitude.
These are lessons he said stayed with him for life. He urged the students to remember those lessons and told them, "You are the future of our community."
Applegate also told them to remember that freedom isn't free, learn to be somebody others can depend upon and respect those who have served. Patriotism is more than waving a flag or standing for the National Anthem -- it's about serving others.
McMillan, a DAHS grad in 2008, told the students a story about how he was on his way home for leave on Sept. 11, 2010, nine years after 9/11, and he met a husband and wife and was talking with them, answering questions about his service in the U.S. Army. They thanked him for his service and something the man said stuck with him: "I hope I can be someone worth serving for."
He also talked about values learned in the service that can be used in life by anyone, including duty, honor, respect, loyalty, courage and selfless service.
"I ask that you all be someone worth serving for," he encouraged the students.
The videos included interviews with veterans and community members, with students asking how they can show appreciation to veterans. The answer?
Thank them for their service, honor them, acknowledge their sacrifice.