Sun, Nov 22 2009
| Breaking News: Update: China mine blast death toll jumps to 87 November 21, 2009 08:05 pm |
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Published November 12, 2009 08:27 am - ALEXANDRIA — When an Alexandria student approached John Wilson and Neal Johnson, he reached out to shake their hands and said, “I just want to personally thank you for all you’ve done for our country.” He told the veterans that stories he’d heard during a holiday observation at the school on Wednesday inspired him to become a Marine someday. Area schools honor, celebrate veterans 70 veterans take seats of honor in Alex By Dave Stafford, Herald Bulletin Staff Writer ALEXANDRIA — When an Alexandria student approached John Wilson and Neal Johnson, he reached out to shake their hands and said, “I just want to personally thank you for all you’ve done for our country.”
He told the veterans that stories he’d heard during a holiday observation at the school on Wednesday inspired him to become a Marine someday. Johnson, a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, took off his hat to the young man. “Now you’ve got a Navy hat,” Johnson said, placing his ball cap on the head of the young man, who said a quick thanks and dashed down the hall of Alexandria High School. “That’s what it’s all about,” Johnson said. Johnson and Wilson were among more than 70 veterans who took seats of honor in the Alexandria-Monroe High School gym on Veterans Day, celebrated by the school system’s more than 1,500 students. “It was beautiful, outstanding,” said Master Sgt. Theresa Collins. A 22-year active duty member of the Air Force, Collins came home to Alexandria dressed in fatigues for the event at the invitation of her niece, an Alexandria student. “It brings me a lot of emotion,” said Collins, who said her father and grandfather had served in wartime, as had uncles — one of whom died during the invasion of Normandy. “It was fantastic and very, very respectful,” she said of Alexandria’s program of patriotic music and performances from students from second grade through high school. “I hope they continue to do it every year.” Veterans had down-front seats as the pom-pom-waving second-grade class performed a medley of “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “This Land is Your Land.” The program included performances by the Alexandria High School band, intermediate and high school choirs and a dramatic reading by drama and student council members. Students waved miniature flags and sang along as an all-school choir performed “God Bless the U.S.A.” In between, Alexandria Elementary School Principal Scott Deetz read the names of veterans who attended the program. “These are the veterans of Alexandria,” he said. “Please give them a big round of applause.” The students obliged with a prolonged standing ovation. Wilson, an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict, said he was impressed with the program and the respectfulness of students who attended. “It makes us feel very important,” he said. 
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