LEGION ASKS SCHOOL FOR VETERANS PROGRAM

JACKSON, Mo. -- Armed with a patriotic spirit and a willingness to teach, Jackson's military veterans are ready to join forces with Jackson High School students to develop commemorative activities for future Veterans Day celebrations.

Charles Hutson, Americanism chairman for the Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158 of Jackson, asked the Jackson school board this week to consider planning some type of Veterans Day program for next year.

With more than 670 members, the Jackson American Legion has many willing volunteers ready to assist students with the program to teach them what it means to be a veteran, he said.

Hutson said his request was inspired Nov. 10 after he attended the Salute to Veterans program sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Central High School Renaissance Club.

The program, sponsored annually since 1994, includes patriotic music and historical readings performed by students in the high school auditorium. Veterans from throughout the region are invited to the event, which is always preceded by a reception and scheduled to end prior to 11 a.m., which veterans consider the most sacred moment of the day.

"Being there, it really made you proud to be an American," Hutson said. "I would really like to see some of our students get involved in something like this and try to instill patriotism and love of country."

School board member Jeannette Bollinger supported Hutson's request.

"It's true the students today don't have any patriotism," she said. "We really need to do something to teach them" about love of country.

American Legion child welfare chairman Bill Poe said the program would be a good return on assistance veterans provide to the school every year.

"We do a lot of oratorical contests, and we sponsor kids to Boys' State and Girls' State every year," Poe said. "I think it's a good idea to help impress the kids and teach them patriotism."

School district Superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson said Hutson's request will be considered when staff members plan the school calendar and assemblies for the next school year.

To be considered with the request is whether to make such an event schoolwide or to restrict it to particular grade levels or classes.

Space is also a consideration, because the district has few places that would contain the high school's student body and visitors, Anderson said.

SCHOOL VETERANS DAY PROGAM

WHAT: Veterans Day program proposal

WHERE: Jackson School District

WHO: Altenthal-Joerns American Legion, Commander Bill Sullivan, 243-5093; child welfare chairman, Bill Poe, 243-3997.