money Rainbow Middle School pays tribute to veterans
Veterans Day on Nov. 11 — a holiday that began 93 years ago at the end of World War I to celebrate the heroism of those who died in our country’s service.
It originally was called Armistice Day but in 1954, following World War II and the Korean conflict, the holiday was changed in order to account for all veterans in all wars since, and that will be.
The first lines of “Veterans Day,” a poem by Cheryl Dyson says it best: “On Veterans Day we honor all/Who answered to a service call.”
The 600 students of Rainbow Middle School, plus the faculty, held an observance of Veterans Day last week with a patriotic program that began with the Presentation of Colors by Boy Scout Troop 151, the Pledge of Allegiance by Miller Jollif and a student essay reading by Leah Lewis.
Music for the event was provided by the RMS Advanced Band playing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and a medley of tunes, “Armed Forces on Parade,” honoring the nation’s armed forces, for which Hayden Hollis was the announcer.
The funeral dirge of taps was played by Ross Quigley, a Jacksonville State University intern.
Featured speaker for the RMS program was Lt. Col. Carl Harrison, an Army veteran and longtime instructor of the Junior ROTC program at Gadsden City High School. He closed his remarks with the ending of Dyson’s poem:
“It is the veteran, not the preacher who has given us freedom of religion.
“It is the veteran, not the reporter who has given us freedom of the press.
“It is the veteran, not the poet who has given us freedom of speech.
“It is the veteran, not the campus organizer who has given us freedom to assemble.
“It is the veteran, not the lawyer who has given us the right to a fair trial.
“It is the veteran, not the politician who has given us the right to vote.
“It is the veteran who salutes the flag, who serves under the flag and whose coffin will be draped by the flag.”
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Rainbow Middle Veterans Day program
