Students and teachers at Smithville Elementary School paid tribute to hometown heroes during the school’s annual Veterans Appreciation assembly program held Friday morning,
Veterans Day is Saturday, November 11
Students from pre-K to the second grade were led in singing “God Bless the USA” and other patriotic songs in honor of veterans who have served in each branch of the military. The Dailey and Vincent music video “Unsung Heroes” was also shown which features several locations and people from DeKalb County.
Adrienne McCormick read the following “Veterans Day” poem by Cheryl Dyson:
“On Veterans Day we honor all,
Who answered to a service call,
Soldiers young, and soldiers old,
Fought for freedom, brave and bold
Some have lived, while others died,
And all of them deserve our pride,
We’re proud of all the soldiers who,
Kept thinking of red, white, and blue,
They fought for us and all our rights,
They fought through many days and nights,
And though we may not know each name,
We thank ALL veterans just the same.”
Veterans either attending or who were recognized or remembered for their service are:
Brian Reed, U.S. Air Force in Desert Storm/Enduring Freedom
Jimmy Sprague, U.S. Army in Operation Just Cause-Panama
Walter Johnson, U.S. Army in the Korean Conflict-
Barbara Boehm, U.S. Army Nurses Corps in Iraq and Afghanistan-
Jerry Pistole, U.S. Navy in Vietnam
James T. Owen, U.S. Army in Vietnam
Wayne Storey, U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy in Vietnam
Eddie Young, Sr. U.S. Navy in Vietnam and Desert Storm
Stephen Merz, U.S. Navy, Post Vietnam 1970-92
Kenneth Vincent, U.S. Army
Ken Clark, U.S. Army in Vietnam
Alan Stengel, U.S. Navy in Vietnam
Steve Warner, U.S. Army in Gulf War Desert Storm
James Cantrell, U.S. Air Force in Korea
Ronnie Redmon, Sr. U.S. Air Force in Vietnam
Paul Neal, U.S. Army in Korea
Paul Robinson, U.S. Navy in World War II
David Petty, U.S. Army in Vietnam
Marcus Boyd, U.S. Army in Korea
Thomas Miller, U.S. Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Corbin Keith, U.S. Army in Korea
Christopher Benson, U.S. Army in Operation Enduring Freedom
Alysha Garmer, U.S. Air Force
Joshua Reed, U.S. Army
Drew Ehlert, U.S. Army in Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom
Christopher Powell, U.S. Navy in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Gene Cook, U.S. Army in Korea
Ronald Cook, U.S. Army in Operation Enduring Freedom
Dimple Blanchfield, U.S. Army in the Vietnam era
Archie Garmer, U.S. Army in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Oneita Storey, U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army in Vietnam
John Clements, U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam
Paul Cantrell, U.S. Navy in Korea
William Heath Philllips, U.S. Navy
Earl Sims (deceased), U.S. Army
Robert Lee Hilla (deceased), U.S. Navy in Vietnam
Carl Albert Hilla (deceased) U.S. Army in World War I
Robert Karl Hilla (deceased), U.S. Army in World War II