Both uniformed, government-service professions that involve high-pressure and dangerous situations, a sense of duty, camaraderie and a chain of command, military service and law enforcement share a lot in common.
A representative from each will be the guest speakers at Cleveland’s Veterans Day programs, both to be held in the school’s new gym on Tuesday (November 11).
First, Le Sueur County Sheriff’s deputy Joe Kern (left) will be the honorary speaker at the 8:30 program, which is geared for the public and high school students.
Going from military service to law enforcement is a natural progression, and Kern, a St. Peter High School and Minnesota State University graduate, who now leads the Sheriff’s K9 unit, will introduce veterans who are part of the LSC Sherriff's Department.
At 9:45, in a new Veterans Day program this year geared for elementary students and the public too, Anton Dittrich (right) will be the guest speaker.
Dittrich is a retired major with 24 years of distinguished military service, having served in the Marine Corps and Army National Guard, including deployments to Kosovo, Iraq, and Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf War. He is currently a high school science teacher, bringing his leadership experience and real-world perspective into the classroom.
Also at earlier ceremony, principal Scott Lusk will introduce the program, Student Council president and NHS secretary Vivian Hilfer will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and senior class president and NHS vice president Carter Kern will welcome the audience.
Cleveland elementary students Declyn Beelow (grade 4), Levi Wargelin (grade 5) and Ashley Geldner (grade 6) will read their selected Veteran’s Day essays. Former US Marine and American Legion member Andy Queen will present the speaker certificates.
National Honor Society president Anna Kawatski-Kline will present President Donald Trump’s Veteran’s Day proclamation. Student Council vice president and junior class vice president Taylor Wolf will give the closing remarks.
The Cleveland American Legion/Legion Auxiliary/Sons of the American Legion Color guard will post and retire the colors while the Firing Squad will fire the salute.
Under the direction of Erik Hermanson, the grade 8-10 Concert Band will provide music. Freshman August Keltgen will play taps.
First ever elementary program is after the main program
At the elementary program, students will recite the Pledge of Allegiance and learn what Veterans Day is all about.
Beelow, Wargelin and Geldner will also read their essays as will fourth graders Paxton Roemhildt and Layla Ponwith, fifth traders Gordo Aguiniga and Annabelle Anderson and sixth graders Reese Roepke and Blayke Holicky.
In their second ever performance, Clipper Rising Voices, a select group of 30 third, fourth and fifth graders directed by music specialist Lacee Johnson, will sing the National Anthem and a tribute to veterans song: “Veterans We Love You.” Johnson will play taps.
The program will close with the entire elementary student body singing “Thank You, Soldiers.”