We Salute you!

By: Haley Donahue

The day to honor our Vets is almost here. On Thursday, November 11^th, 2010 at 2:00p.m. the Veteran's Day Program will be held, everyone is encouraged to come and support the veterans who have done a good deed for our country. The program consists of several speakers and entertainers that will keep your attention. Presentation of the flags always opens the program, this year they will enter the seventh year anniversary of the program here in Clear Lake, South Dakota at Deuel High School in the Cardinal gym.

Several people take part in helping with this program, Mrs. Shirlyn Christensen is the leader of this program. She does several tasks to make this event possible. Tasks she has to do to prepare for this day is to coordinate, make a slideshow honoring veterans,and find a speaker with the help of Mr. Dean Christensen. Making the layout for the order of the program is another must that Mrs. Christensen has to do.

The high school choir, the all state choir, and also the fourth and fifth grade students will be singing during the program. Two students are also chosen to read their veterans day papers that were written in Mrs. Cindy Konold's english class. Generally they choose the two students being in the seventh and eight grade class. Students all have a huge part in choosing the papers that will be read. In Mrs. Konold's class they analyze with rubrics Mrs. Konold has made and they narrow it down and with the final five or so selected they read them to the class then vote on two papers and those two will be reading their papers at the Veteran's Day Program. The prompt of the story is, “Does patriotism still matter?”

Mrs. Christensen was asked what her favorite part of being apart of the program was and her response was “My favorite part is when the band plays the song Armed Forces Solute and also the playing of the slideshow.” She was also asked, Is she enjoys being a main person that makes this program happen with a response of “Yes, I feel it's important to the vets and also to show the kids the past history of Veteran's day.”

The picture above on the top left is a picture of Mrs. Christensen working hard on getting the final touch-ups in the slideshow displayed. The picture on the top right is a picture of some of the girls in band working on corrections for their music pieces in the program.

This story will also be in the Clear Lake Courier.