Local schools set to celebrate Veterans Day

Randall students make personalized bookmarks, which will be given to veterans at the school's Veteran's Day assembly next week. Pictured (from left) are Kenzie Ketterhagen, Tati Cordova, Madison Toro and Shannon Biba.  (Photo by Anne Trautner)
Randall students make personalized bookmarks, which will be given to veterans at the school’s Veteran’s Day assembly next week. Pictured (from left) are Kenzie Ketterhagen, Tati Cordova, Madison Toro and Shannon Biba. (Photo by Anne Trautner)

Ceremonies planed to honor veterans, educate students on sacrifice

By Anne Trautner

Staff Writer

Students at schools across the area will participate in Veterans Day activities this week.

“It’s a teachable moment for teachers to help students to understand that these people gave us our freedom. These people fought and left their families to do that. It helps kids show gratitude, which is a neat thing. It is one of my favorite assemblies because it is so meaningful,” said Karen Reddin, gifted and talented coordinator at Randall School.

Not all students across the country get that opportunity.

“When I taught in Illinois, they had off from school, and there was a lot of debate about whether should they be out of school or in school. I think that being in school and going to the assembly is something that makes it relevant because if they were out of school, they would just be enjoying themselves and not thinking about what Veterans Day is all about,” said Marlene Tilsner, a social studies teacher at Wilmot High School.

Veterans go through a lot during their military service, and when they get back into civilian life, they need to know what support is out there for them to receive. In fact, some of them do have financial worries because of where they have been, so this is where planning and community aid are a necessity, more can be read here for those who may be in this predicament. Hopefully, communities coming together to show their support can provide them with that help they are in need of.

A meaningful experience

In addition to being a powerful learning experience, the Veterans Day celebrations are meaningful for veterans themselves.

Tilsner said she learned that years ago when she started organizing Veterans Day assemblies. A veteran herself, Tilsner has taken on the organizer role for schools she taught at in Texas, Illinois and Wisconsin.

At her first assembly, the oldest living veteran in the county where Tilsner worked attended the ceremony.

“When his name was announced, he stood up and literally shuffled across the stage to the podium. It took him a good 10 minutes, and you could have heard a pin drop as he was making his way across the stage. I was so nervous about what he was doing because he was not supposed to be coming over to the microphone,” Tilsner said.

When the veteran finally got to the microphone he said, “I am so honored to be here.”

Then he turned around and walked back to his chair.

“When an anthem is played, to see someone struggling to stand up because that is important to them, or to see a veteran who gets a little teary-eyed at that, or maybe to see a veteran that is missing a limb or has some physical issue because of his or her service, that makes an impact,” Tilsner said.

Students also are affected by seeing people they didn’t realize were in the service, she said.

“I know that there are some people who are on our staff that students don’t realize were military at one point in time,” said Tilsner, who served eight years in the National Guard.

On Tuesday, when Wilmot’s school day begins at 7:45 a.m., veterans are invited to come in for breakfast and fellowship.

At about 8:50, veterans will be escorted to the field house for the school’s 14th annual assembly. About 100 veterans are expected to attend, and each veteran will be acknowledged at Tuesday’s program.

Tilsner is trying to line up some of the veterans to visit classrooms to talk to students about their experiences.

“I’m hoping that maybe if we get more conversations going, then the impact will be even deeper,” Tilsner said. “When I see some of these veterans, I think of what a wealth of information they are for these students.”

At 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Wilmot High School will show the movie “Honor Flight” in the school auditorium. Everyone is invited to watch the movie, and there is no charge. Free popcorn and water will be served.

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight

Students at Randall Consolidated School have made the movie “Honor Flight” become a reality for two veterans.

Randall students raised $1,000, enough money to send two veterans on the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

Randall’s Veterans Day committee organized a fundraiser at Culver’s in Burlington. Together with cash donations, the committee raised $500. Randall Student Council agreed to match the amount raised, so will donate an additional $500.

Stars and Stripes Honor Flight is a national organization that brings World War II and Korean veterans to Washington, D.C.

Last year, a group of Randall’s eighth-graders who went on a school trip to Washington, D.C., got to meet Honor Flight participants. In an impromptu ceremony, the student placed wreaths at the Korean War Memorial, Reddin said.

“It was incredible. I mean, grown men crying. It took your breath away,” Reddin said.

Randall will hold its ninth annual Veterans Day assembly on Tuesday.

The school expects to have approximately 70 veterans attend, with an additional 50 companions joining them. Many of them will be at the school for the lunch and the assembly to follow.

No reservations are required to attend next week’s assembly, but in order for have enough food prepared, reservations to attend Randall’s luncheon must be made by Friday, Nov. 7.

“This day is truly a special one for us all at Randall. It is not often enough that we get an opportunity to truly thank and show our appreciation to the veterans and current military personnel who have fought for and preserved our freedoms,” Reddin said.

When veterans come to Randall to be honored on Tuesday, they will each receive handmade bookmarks crafted by students at Randall.

The bookmarks feature poppies, adopted as a national symbol of remembrance.

“They actually use their fingerprint to make the poppies, so it kind of puts their personal touch on it,” Reddin said.

Help throughout the year

Students in the Salem School District have been collecting household items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, paper towels, shower curtain liners and soap since Oct. 13 to help homeless veterans.

“I’m pretty excited about it. I think this is a nice way for kids to really do something actively through their donations and make that connection between why are we giving these things to veterans,” said Kim Hildreth, school counselor at Salem.

Salem School partnered with the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative to help veterans who are homeless. With the collection of daily use household items (like the ones mentioned before), the initiative could take a step further and create custom packages (with the help of master packaging experts from the likes of BoldtSmith Packaging Consultants) for veterans for an additional touch of love and feeling of service for the needy.

On any given night one of every four homeless people is a veteran, Hildreth said.

Salem School will hold an assembly on Monday at 2:15 p.m. Area veterans are invited to come at 1:45 p.m. for refreshments.

During the assembly, Boy Scouts will post and retire the colors, the choir and band will perform. Eighth grade students will talk about what Veterans Day is and how it came about. A flag will also be folded so that students will learn how to respect the flag, Hildreth said.

Kirsten Sobieski, executive director of the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative, will speak at Monday’s assembly about homeless veterans.

Students have been watching videos in the classroom and have been learning about veterans and the problems they face when they return home.

All the students have written notes thanking veterans for their service. Sobieski will bring the notes and household items back to veterans whom the Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Initiative serves.

“It’s pretty simple in the whole scheme of things,” Hildreth said. “A lot of it is about recognizing the day and helping our kids to acknowledge the sacrifices that people make for us on a daily basis.”

If you go

Here are some of the Veterans Day celebrations that will be held next week at area schools. Veterans, their families and friends are invited to all the programs. If possible, veterans are asked to R.S.V.P. to most schools in order to prepare enough refreshments.

Lakewood Elementary School

Monday, Nov. 10

Veterans Day Program, 2-2:45 p.m.

For more information, call (262) 877-2148.

Randall Consolidated School

Veterans Day Lunch and Assembly

Tuesday, Nov. 11

Lunch at 12:30 p.m.; assembly at 1:30 p.m.

R.S.V.P. for lunch by Friday, Nov. 7, by emailing Kathy Mudroch at [email protected] or by calling the school at (262) 537-2211.

Salem School District

Monday, Nov. 10

Refreshments at 1:45 p.m.; assembly at 2:15 p.m.

For more information, call (262) 843-2356, ext. 586. No R.S.V.P. needed.

Westosha Central High School

Tuesday, Nov. 11

Reception with coffee and sweet rolls at 9:15 a.m.; assembly at 9:47 a.m.

R.S.V.P. for food reception by calling (262) 843-2321, ext. 382.

Wheatland Joint 1 School District

Tuesday, Nov. 11

Breakfast at 8:30 a.m.; program at 9:15 a.m.

For more information, call (262) 537-2216.

Wilmot High School

Tuesday, Nov. 11

Breakfast at 7:45 a.m.; assembly at 9 a.m.

“Honor Flight” movie showing at 6 p.m.

Reservations are not necessary, but if possible R.S.V.P. to Marlene Tilsner at (262) 862-2351, ext. 265, or [email protected].


Posted

in

by

Tags: