Houston schools hold numerous Veterans Day programs

Houston County schools held various Veterans Day programs in several schools last week.

Russell Elementary, Thomson Middle, Huntington Middle, Hilltop Elementary, Veterans High and Eagle Springs Elementary schools each held programs throughout the week.

Veterans High performed its sixth annual Veterans for Veterans concert on Veterans Day.

At Huntington Middle School on Tuesday morning, veterans were honored during a schoolwide assembly.

"We definitely appreciate all that you do and the sacrifice you make," Huntington Principal Gwendolyn Taylor said.

The middle school band and choir performed a number of songs including the "The Star-Spangled Banner" and a medley of each of the five branches of the military songs.

The Warner Robins High School Junior ROTC honor guard presented the colors during the event.

"I have been in a military family all my life," eighth-grader Alexis Gonzalez said during the service. She also played the flute in the band.

Both of her parents serve in the military and she understands the sacrifices her family has had to make.

The biggest challenge for Alexis is the constant moving. She said it is hard to move away from friends, although she was able to do her part to pay tribute to her parents and all veterans by speaking at her school's Veterans Day program.

"It's a great honor for me. I get to show the school how much I appreciate my parents and veterans," she said.

Bill Munn, who retired from the Air Force in 1993, played "Taps" after a moment of silence. He said it was one of the hardest songs to play but hoped the students understood its message.

"Freedom is not free," Munn said.

James Christianson, band director, spoke about the Greenlight A Vet program, which calls for people to change one lightbulb, on a porch or window, to green.

The purpose is to show veterans who drive by a green light that they are appreciated and valued.

Veterans were treated to a continental breakfast after the service.

Guest speaker Col. Dawn Lancaster, deputy commander of the 78th Air Base Wing at Robins, asked students who knew a military member to raise their hands. Almost all of the students raised their hand.

"You don't have to be in a uniform to serve," Lancaster said.

She explained that by sending a card to a military member who is deployed or just thanking someone on the street is a reminder of why she serves.

"There are people who want to take away all the wonderful opportunities we have. It is my honor to protect the freedoms we have," Lancaster said.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 9:36 AM with the headline "Houston schools hold numerous Veterans Day programs ."