When the keynote speaker for Friday morning's Veterans Day program would not be able to attend, Andy Queen, a Cleveland Legion member and former Marine, offered to fill in.
With short notice a legitimate excuse, Queen considered taking the easy way out and simply rehashing one of the messages available over the internet.
But as he read the canned speeches, Queen noted they were all about the origins of the holiday and convincing the listeners to honor and support veterans, themes unnecessary for Cleveland, he said.
“My audience today does not need another history lesson on Veterans Day and on how to recognize and support our veterans. My audience today, you, need to hear what an impact your support has on and what it means to veterans. Today is not a day to teach; today is a day to recognize.”
Queen went on to acknowledge parents for instilling a sense of patriotism, school staff for teaching youth the history and background needed to nurture patriotism, and students for supporting the veteran community.
“In the three decades plus that I have been involved with veterans’ groups in this community, I would be hard pressed to recall any instances when the support of this school, the student body and this community has been anything less than exemplary.
“When we need music for our Memorial Day program, the band has always stepped up, taken time from their holiday and helped us out…If we need a bugler to help us honor a deceased veteran, one of the band members is always willing to fulfill the need. When our organizations need assistance with a function, we are always provided with outstanding community support.”
Queen noted that the program itself was a good example: kindergarten and first grader tributes to veterans lining the hallway walls leading to ceremony in the new gym, letters to veterans on the table next to the ceremony programs, essays by fourth, fifth and sixth graders written for the occasion and an audience making a commitment to recognize veterans.
“Veterans are important to our country and history,” said fourth grader Davin McLister in his speech. “They helped us become who we are today. They are our heroes. Veterans protect our nation, and they are brave, kind and special. They helped us, and now we honor them. I would give every veteran a gold medal.”
“Veterans Day is a day when we honor all those who served in the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard,” said fifth grader Bella Baker in her speech. “But for me, it is a day where I get bet to be grateful for all the things we have, for instance, food, a roof over our heads, cars, toys, trains and school…So the next time you play with toys, have food, go to school, go to your house or go to the dentist or doctor, which I know can be scary sometimes, just be grateful for what you have because people from the military fought and sacrificed their lives for the things we have today.”
In her speech, sixth grader Hadley Thompson noted the effort it takes to be in the military.
“They put in a lot of training. They have to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, pass the physical examination, take an oath of enlistment and more. That takes a lot of work, and all that work is to save our country.”
For the second year in a row, sophomore Carter Kern won the Voice of Democracy competition. In his speech, he compared democracy to people holding a stage for a president to give a speech. When one by one, those who support the stage walk away, the president falls to the ground, and the audience can no longer hear him.
Kern said social media is a modern example of how people can have a voice. But the audience needs to hear it.
“If you post on Facebook about how you don’t like the school board’s decision on the firing of the lunch lady, you have the power to reach and affect many people….But if you don’t have an audience that wants to listen, you are not going to be effective…The capability of a democracy’s leader can only go so far before the stage falls and no one listens…in today’s day and age, we can do far more than we think just by listening, and what better way to show appreciation to our democracy than to use it to help others.”
Also at the ceremony, Principal Scott Lusk gave the introduction. Senior class president Madysen Seely led the Pledge of Allegiance. Junior class president Ariel Murphy welcomed the audience. Kern read President Joe Biden’s Veteran’s Day proclamation, Student Council vice president Maya Lasiter gave the closing remarks and dismissed the audience.
The Cleveland American Legion, Legion Auxiliary and Sons of the American Legion posted and exited the colors and fired the salutatory three rounds.
Directed by Erik Hermanson, the Cleveland School 11-12 Concert Band provided music, including "Call to Valor," "The Star-Spangled Banner," and "Armed Forces on Parade."
Senior Greta Hahn played taps.
Above: Student speakers and principal Scott Lusk
Madisyn Seely led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Kindergarteners look at the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.
Elementary students during the Pledge of Allegiance
Ariel Murphy welcomed the audience.
John Reintjes spent six years in the Army 492nd Engineers from Mankato. Today, he is a paraprofessional at Cleveland helping in Mrs. Baker’s kindergarten class. His grandchildren, Carter Reintjes, a junior, and Miles Reintjes, a fifth grader, attend Cleveland School.
Always faithful: Former Marine Andy Queen stepped in with short notice to give the keynote address.
Fourth grader Davin McLister
Fifth grader Bella Baker
Sixth grader Hadley Thompson
Voice of Democracy winner Carter Kern
Firing squad. At left is Jim Struck.
Greta Hahn played taps.
Maya Lasiter gave the closing remarks.
Led by Andy Queen, the Cleveland Color Guard exits the colors.
Firing squad during exit of colors: Jim Struck, Don McCabe, Kevin Derner, Theodore Deutsch and Bob Hahn.
The 11-12 Concert Band provided music for the event.
Concert Band
Principal Scott Lusk and the elementary essay readers, Bella Baker, Hadley Thompson and Davin McLister
Kindergarten and first grader tributes to Veterans in the gym
Kindergarten and first grader tributes to veterans in the hallway to the new gym
More tributes
More tributes
Letters to veterans were available for them to take at the entrance of the new gym.
Larry Kortuem reads one of the thank you letters to veterans. He served in the Vietnam war and is the grandfather of senior Lilly Lamont and freshman Anna Lamont.