Sisters High School honors veterans

After nearly two months of planning and 40 hours of preparation, the 11th annual Sisters High School Veterans Day celebration hosted approximately two dozen veterans from a variety of locations including Sisters, Crooked River Ranch, Redmond and The Dalles.

Sisters High School Principal Bob Macauley opened the event with a story about his own son in the military and, addressing the students gathered to view the assembly, said "you have been given much, and much is expected."

Boy Scout Seth Flanders presented the colors with scouts Taylor Lucas and Garrett Trahern as color guards. The scouts represented Troop 188.

Michelle Summers' Jazz Choir pleased the crowd with their rendition of the National Anthem, "Soldier Boy."

The highlighted speaker of the gathering was The Dalles resident Lolly Tweed who spoke about her father's experiences in World War II.

George Tweed, an Oregon native, was serving as a radioman on Guam for the U.S. Navy when World War II broke out. The small American military force stationed on the island was faced with a difficult decision: surrender to the Japanese or hide in the jungle until the Americans returned. They chose to hide.

Within 12 months, Tweed was the only American who had evaded capture. Tweed was aided by Guam native Antonio Artero, who hid Tweed in a cave on his property while Tweed mapped Japanese munitions and troop placement on the island.

After two years and seven months, Tweed used a mirror to signal to an American destroyer and was able to escape from the island and report on his findings. As a result of his information, Guamanian casualties were minimal during the American invasion.

Tweed was presented with the Legion of Merit medal, and Artero received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Tweed's experience formed the basis for the book "Robinson Crusoe, U.S.N." as well as the 1963 film, "No Man Is An Island."

Following Tweed's speech, SHS teacher Sally Taylor-Pillar praised the Lynn Johnston Veterans scholarship for the contribution he has made to the 19 students; total scholarship monies donated total $93,000.

"The goal of the program has been met and exceeded," said Taylor-Pillar.

A commemorative video produced by SHS senior Jake Lasken followed Jody Henderson's Concert Band's performance of "Echoes of the Civil War" and the playing of the Marches of the Armed Forces. A moment of silence and Taps concluded the assembly.