By Angel Perkins Staff Writer
Local veterans were recognized Wednesday, Nov. 11 by Triton Elementary staff and students during a Veterans Day ceremony. Local students of Webelos Pack #254 acted as color guard to begin the event and Boy Scout Michael Hefner led the packed gymnasium with The Pledge of Allegiance.

A ladies ensemble of TES staff, showed they can do more than teach.
Dressed in respective U.S. colors they presented in harmony the melodious “America the Beautiful” followed by Linda Bowdler introducing a selection of students that had been involved with the “Forgotten Soldiers Outreach.” Students had been asked to write letters to active servicemen and women and those selected read aloud their submissions to the cause thanking the random, anonymous, service personnel for “letting us all be free” and other   similar gratitudes.
Sixth grader Gavin Eads told his serviceperson in his letter, “I hope to become as brave and courageous as you.” The fifth grade then took to the floor and sang several tribute songs including the singing of the individual branches of United States Armed Forces anthems. Members present were asked to stand as their branch was announced. Ten were present that served in the Army, four from the Navy, three from the Marines, two from the Air Force and none stood for recognition and applause for the U.S. Coast Guard.
Another group of students were selected to act as individual grave-site markers with crosses representing those in Flanders Field, while others (Brittney Goley and Jaela Meister) took turns reading the story explaining the situation behind what struck Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae in 1915 to write the famed poem “In Flander’s Fields,” which started the distribution of wearing poppies to remember American troops.
Brandon Haines of the Triton Jr.-Sr. High School Marching Band, “The Spirit of Triton” played the mournful notes of “Taps” while some veterans hung their heads and others looked off in the distance. The crowd of students and staff was invited to stand and sing “God Bless The U.S.A.” before the closing and dismissal announcement by TES Principal Jeremy Riffle. He asked those veterans present to line the exit of the gymnasium to receive the students as they were dismissed so that they could offer their thanks individually with their young voices commenting their gratitude or with the shaking of hands.