November 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
Smithville Elementary students and teachers paid tribute Friday morning to the brave men and women who have served our country in honor of Veterans Day during an assembly program in the gymnasium.
Local veterans were treated to children singing songs in honor of each military branch of service as well as “God Bless the USA” and “I love America” under the direction of Ms. Gates Craighead. A music video by Dailey & Vincent called “Unsung Heroes” was shown to open the program.
The tribute began with the presentation of the flags by boy and girl scouts, the pledge of allegiance and a welcome from SES Principal Summer Cantrell
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.”
Student Sam Tobitt also read from Psalms 33 12-22.
Veterans recognized during the program were as follows:
Smithville Elementary Students Sing for Veterans from dwayne page on Vimeo.
*Barbara Boehm, US Army Nurse Corps- Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.
*Paul Lee Hendrixson, father of Paulette McDonald and Patricia Wood, Army and Navy-World War II (deceased)
*Gerald Dodson, US Army
*Edsel Frazier, US Army-World War II
*James Owen, US Army-Vietnam
*Troy Ray, US Army-Iraq and Afghanistan
*Odie Tallent, US Air Force and Army
*Herbert Ted Ivey, US Army-Vietnam
*Charles Cantrell, US Army-Vietnam
*Don Risgby, US Air Force- Vietnam
*Ron Mollinet, US Navy
*William Edmonds, US Army-Vietnam
*Thomas J. Eldridge, US Navy and Coast Guard
*Paul Starnes, US Army-Vietnam
*John Clements, US Marine Corps-Vietnam
*Dale Pedigo, US Army
*Jerry Adcock, US Marine Corps-Vietnam to Desert Storm and Desert Shield
*Kenny Comstock (deceased), US Marine Corps
*Danny Bandy, US Army- Vietnam
*Corbin Keith, US Army-Korea and Vietnam
*J.J. Herriott, US Navy
*Melvin Young, US Army-Vietnam
*Brian Reed, US Air Force-Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan)
*John Hummer, US Marine Corps-Vietnam
*Jeremy Butcher, US Army
*Antoinette (Toni) Fruehauf, US Air Force
*Cleo McDonald, husband of Paulette McDonald, US Army-Korea
*Dale Hall, US Army-Vietnam
*Clyde Thomas, US Navy-Korea (deceased)
*Billy Joe Newby, US Army-Vietnam (deceased)
*Glenn Brown, US Air Force-Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom
*Gary E. Davis, US Army-Vietnam
*James C. Wilmoth, US Army
*Phillip Debord, US Army- Vietnam and Gulf War
*Ronnie Bates, US Army-Vietnam
*Ronnie Redmon, Sr., US Air Force-Vietnam
*Cody Jenkins, US Army-Afghanistan
*Gary Boywitt, US Army