Charles City honors veterans with high school program

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City community celebrated its veterans at the annual Veterans Day Program at the Charles City School District’s Comet Gym on Monday, Nov. 11.

The program began with Addison Tracey performing the Call to the Colors as Charles City FFA students advanced flags to the podium.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of the national anthem by the Jazz Choir, and an invocation by Pastor Rob Williams, the program welcomed Marine Corps veteran Phillip Knighten to present opening remarks.

Knighten thanked the numerous local businesses who offered their appreciation of veterans and told the students in attendance about how his time in the military shaped the person he would become in ways that would benefit his life after serving.

“As I look back at those days, I look more and more of the character traits I built at that time,” said Knighten. “The honor of being a United States Marine veteran has led to all those other achievements.”

The program’s featured speaker of the day was Army veteran and active Army Reserve member Todd Prichard, who discussed his own military experience and emphasized the importance of service to the country for every citizen.

“It’s important whether you serve in the military or in some other way that you contribute to this country,” said Prichard. “Do your part because without people that are willing to contribute and think of the country over themselves, we don’t have much of a country.”

Following the speakers, the high school Symphonic Band performed “Armed Forces on Parade” and the high school choir sang the poem “In Flanders Fields” before social studies students presented a program about the history of war songs in America. Patrick Bruening, Mallory Cook, Terry Cooks, Jazznee David, Kaden Littleton, Quinn McCarty, Nya Nosbisch, and Emma Prichard each picked out a popular song tied to military service and explained the context around it.

The program concluded with the chorus singing “Battle Hymm of the Republic,” and a recognition of the veterans in the audience. A moment of silence was followed by taps, played by Addison Tracey and Mickey Bauer, before Pastor Williams offered a closing reflection and Master of Ceremonies Trevor Carolan gave the program’s final remarks.