Sisters ceremony marks Veterans Day

Sisters will mark the Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day observance with a ceremony at Sisters High School.

Next Tuesday is a national holiday; government agencies and all local schools will be closed.

"However, we will have a public ceremony that night," said Michelle Herron, activities director for Sisters High School. "The entire community is welcome to come to our school for the public observance. We want everyone there."

It was the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour that the truce ending World War I was signed at the Forest of Compiegne in France in 1918. This momentous occasion was to be celebrated as the end of "the war to end all wars."

For years that date was honored as Armistice Day.

History proved the belief in "the war to end all wars" to be wrong and in 1954 congress declared November 11 as Veterans Day, the date we now celebrate honoring all veterans from all wars and conflicts.

Among those scheduled to appear Tuesday night will be the high school choir and band playing and singing patriotic songs, including one or more of John Philip Sousa's marches.

Also on hand will be the Junior R.O.T.C. from Prineville acting as color guard and executing their precision rifle and drill formations.

There will be a number of short talks by veterans.

One of the emotional highlights of the evening will be the call out to members of the audience to stand as their service is named and their anthem is played.

"We want all veterans from this area to attend and share with us this great evening in our new auditorium," Herron said.

She has a personal interest in this day as her grandfather, William Botz, was a highly decorated veteran. He received the Croix de Guerre, awarded during World War I for exceptional bravery. He was wounded in France, where he received the medal.

There is no charge for the Veterans Day event. Doors to the high school auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m. with the program commencing at 7 p.m.

Because all local schools will be closed Tuesday, the elementary and middle schools will have brief ceremonies Monday, November 10.

At Sisters Elementary School, there will be an all-school Pledge of Allegiance ceremony outside the front of the school between 8:10 and 8:15 a.m.

"Veterans are encouraged to attend," said school principal, Tim Comfort. "We also will have special class subjects that day on, 'What does this day mean to you?'" he said, "and invited veterans will sit in on fourth and fifth grade classes sharing their experiences."

The day and event have special meaning for third grade teacher Craig Benton, whose father Ed was a veteran. The flag which was draped upon the senior Benton's coffin will be the flag raised over the school that day.

At Sisters Middle School, a flag raising ceremony will be held at 12:40 p.m. on Monday afternoon, according to Principal Lora Nordquist.

"We hope many will come and join with us for this special occasion at our new school," she said.

There will be a program on Wednesday at the high school for the entire student body at 10:20 a.m.

"We will have veterans who are on our registration list and have been personally invited to come and talk with our students," Herron said. "There will be a book for those not now listed to place their names on our honor roll and for future invitations.

"Our students embrace this project as something very special," she said. "It is quite moving and highly motivating.

"This is also a good time for students who are applying for the $3,000 Lynn Johnston Veteran's Scholarship (previewed in The Nugget, October 22) to interview a veteran as part of their application process."