Honoring veterans

World War II veterans in their 90s, elementary school students not yet 10 years old and all ages between gathered at Johnson County schools in recent days to honor military personnel.

At Union Elementary School, students stood in front of an illuminated American flag and performed military anthems and poems dedicated to those in the service.

At Franklin Community Middle School, Col. Marjorie Courtney delivered a keynote address discussing the inspiration for the National Anthem. Courtney said Veterans Day events at schools are key in students recognizing the significance of service.

“It is important because there are fewer and fewer veterans and fewer and fewer service members every year,” Courtney said. “There was a time during World War II and Vietnam when there were millions of service members and everybody had a family member in the service. Now they’re down to a very small percentage of the population that is actually serving. It’s important that they feel comfortable considering that as a vocation or profession.”

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Even though most students will not go on to serve in a branch of the military, Courtney said the event also serves as a way to encourage students to exercise the rights protected by the military.

“The veterans want them to exercise their freedoms,” Courtney said. “If you want to honor a veteran that’s how you do it. You stay in school, you don’t do drugs, you go out and vote, you contact your congressman. We don’t care what they say, we just sacrifice for their right to say it, and that’s why it’s so important.”