Sisters pays tribute to veterans

Sisters Middle School was decked out in red, white and blue as students and staff welcomed Sisters area veterans for an hour-long tribute on Thursday, November 10.

Local Boy Scouts posted the colors as activities director Mim Burke (who has two sons in the U.S. Army) and class president Zander Albertson welcomed the veterans to the program:

“Today it is our privilege to say thank you to all veterans,” Burke said.

The theme of thanks was prevalent in the ceremonies. Army veteran Bill Sampson, the event’s keynote speaker, closed his remarks by asking the students and community members to recognize serving soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines when they meet them in restaurants and airports.

“Take a moment to go up and thank them,” Sampson said.

He said such demonstrations of appreciation are of incalcuable value to those who serve.

He noted that those who don their country’s uniform make a solemn commitment that is enshrined in the military code of conduct: “I am an American fighting man and I am prepared to give my life for my country.”

When the soldier lays his life on the line, Sampson said, he is defending freedom of religion, freedom of movement, freedom of speech.

“He is defending those freedoms even if he doesn’t agree with what some people say or think,” he said.

Later in the morning at Sisters High School, Gerald Thompson, like Sampson a Vietnam War veteran, described the profound commitment of service people, especially in remembrance of their fallen comrades.

He described the soldiers assigned to guard the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington, D.C., authorized to stand down in the face of a hurricane — an authorization they rejected.

“Never once did they retire from their post of duty,” Thompson said.

The Sisters veteran delivered an emotional address; at times he was audibly choked-up.

“I don’t often speak of these times in my life,” he told the high school audience. “Not because I am ashamed but because I hold them in reverence.”

The high school event was dedicated to the memory of George Winterfeld, who died earlier this year. Winterfeld was active in veterans affairs and a key organizer of the local Memorial Day observances.

Principal Bob Macauley also remembered Phil Chlopek, who was instrumental in helping students stage the first Veterans Day assembly in 1999.

“We found that our leadership students and Phil were sharpening each other,” he recalled. “They were learning from each other.

“It’s so important that our young people be around veterans that have served their country and know what that means.”

Sisters Elementary School students gathered in front of their school for a flag-raising that morning. As has become his tradition, teacher Craig Benton raised the flag that had draped his father Ed’s coffin. Ed Benton was a veteran.

An ensemble of teachers offered a patriotic song and the entire student body also joined in on a musical piece.

The ceremonies at all schools were solemn, but not downbeat. Music both intensified and livened the atmosphere as middle school Americana Project students performed “Let Them In,” a John Gorka song based on a soldier’s poem found in a hospital in the Philippines during World War II.

Brendan Booher played the national anthem on his fiddle and was later joined by his students for a rousing medley of patriotic tunes.

At Sisters High School, band musicians and choir singers both contributed to stirring musical moments, accompanied in parts by readings performed by Eric Dolson.

The band offered a medley of the marches of the armed services and members of each branch of service stood to receive the cheers of an enthusiastic audience.