Students find a new way to honor veterans

For over two decades the schools in the Sisters School District have made special efforts to honor veterans during the week of Veterans Day, but with the pandemic closing down the middle and high schools, they had to get creative to keep the tradition alive.

The result is a student-leadership-produced video made available last week that includes music, commentary, and educational information related to veterans.

The video is available on The Nugget’s Facebook page as well as via a link available at the end of this story.

Eighth grader Jack Turpen took a lead role in the production including a video featuring the nonprofit Mission 22, now based in Sisters, that provides comprehensive care for veterans and their families with an underlying mission of preventing veteran suicide, which averages 22 a day in the United States.

Mission 22 programs include equine therapy, a “recovery and resilience” program, distance counseling, a “vets feeding vets” grocery program and much more. The Mission 22 website is www.mission22.com.

Additionally, the presentation included a Zoom rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by the Sisters High School jazz choir, an explanation of the “missing man” table ceremony narrated by senior Shelby Larson, the playing of taps, a reading of a 2016 letter delivered to Sisters High School from John McCain by Joe Hosang, dozens of thank-yous from students and staff and a closing musical piece, “American Patrol” by the Sisters High School wind ensemble.

“We weren’t going to let the pandemic keep us from honoring our veterans,” said Hosang.

The link to the video is https://bit.ly/SistersVeterans.