By Joyce McCarthy
Veterans Program Director
A television camera was rolling and phone cameras were digitally clicking as area veterans climbed in and out of a special set of wheels for a ride to Adrian High School’s Veterans Day program. Adrian National Honor Society students organized a stretch Hummer limousine to pick up veterans to attend the Nov. 10 ceremony in the high school’s gym.
“I’ve never ridden in a stretch Hummer either. We appreciate what they’re all doing for us,” veteran Herman Boltjes told a KSFY reporter and photographer for a story that aired on the Sioux Falls television station later that evening.
The students asked area businesses and individuals to contribute to the cost of bringing the impressive black limo from Stellar Limousine in Sioux Falls to the streets of Lismore and Adrian. The limo driver, himself a veteran, laid out a red carpet and aided the veterans in and out of the fancy ride.
One of the requirements of the National Honor Society is a commitment to service, and students collected donations from the community and called veterans to participate in the event. Students easily found people willing to contribute to the worthy cause. The National Honor Society members want to thank major sponsors Adrian State Bank, Hokeness Grain and Livestock, Inc. and Rick and Mary Peterson. Other contributors include the Leon and Susan Bullerman family, Keith’s Grocery, Kunkel Auto Repair, Loosbrock Digging Service, State Bank of Lismore, Son-D-Farms, T3 Fitness of Adrian, Veld Lumber of Lismore and Stellar Limousine of Sioux Falls.
Veterans stood and one by one stated into a microphone their names, the branches of the military and the years they served. The crowd gathered in the Adrian High School gym for the Veterans Day ceremony was silent in respect as the men and women’s words served as poignant reminders of the military service the event was meant to honor. The final introduction brought the audience to its feet with applause of appreciation.
Adrian students, kindergarten through 12th grade, filled the bleachers, and community members of all ages filled the chairs at the Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 10. Adrian National Honor Society students planned and carried out the 40-minute recognition program that included the Adrian and Lismore American Legion color guards’ presentation of the flags. Seniors Brady Henning and Alexia Kemper gave a short history behind Veterans Day and introduced the various readings and songs that followed the theme of appreciation for all veterans.
A video showed Adrian elementary students in front of a patriotic bulletin board, delivering line-by-line the poem entitled “Veterans Day” by Cheryl Dyson. “On Veterans Day we honor all,” said one student as the next smiling face followed with “Who answered to a service call.”
Paige Bullerman, Avery Balster, Sabdi Bravo and Hannah Kruse gave a dramatic reading entitled “Freedom” as overhead photos combined military scenes with pictures of students’ everyday activities: a reminder that the freedom in day-to-day American life comes with sacrifice by American soldiers.
The Adrian music department added emotional exclamation points to the day’s ceremony with the band’s “Star-Spangled Banner,” “Spirit of America,” Tommy Morrison and Autumn Grussings’ “Taps” and the high school choir’s “America the Beautiful.” The moment that captivated the spirit of the day came as the elementary students, middle school and high school choirs sang, “A Grateful Nation.” “We honor you, the heroes of red, white and blue” sang the sea of young voices.
As students left the gym, many lined up to shake the hands of veterans. “I’ve waited 52 years for this,” said one veteran, who noted that when he came from a war in VietNam, no one was there to shake hands in thank you.
