Perryville Elementary honors veterans

Perryville Elementary honors veterans

Perryville Elementary School honored local veterans on Thursday with songs, poems and presentations. The annual Veterans Day Assembly was held Nov. 5, with special guest of honor from the Perryville VFW Post 4282, and veterans from the community.

Mrs. Patti Gremaud, a counselor at PES, led the program, which was opened with a solemn posting of Colors by the VFW Color Guard which included Gary and Kari Boettcher, Ken Baer and Gib Besand.

Students, staff and guests then recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang The Star Spangled Banner.

Student Daisy Ernst presented a poem entitled, "Veterans," and then the PES Honor Choir performed "American Tears."

Guest speaker was Mrs. Kate Martin, who is a US Army veteran. She told the students the story of Capt. Ray Littge of Perry County, the top WWII ace fighter pilot from Missouri, and explained that veterans and those who serve their country are the "real super heroes of America."

Students sang a rousing rendition of "Thank a Vet," learned about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and saw a skit by fourth graders Destiny Worley, Libby Reed, Joshua Wood, and Arzie Ragsdale. Students Cloey Richardet and Simon Wibbenmeyer read letters they'd written to veterans. Just before the retrieval of the Colors, the crowd sand "This is Your Land."

"The children were very respectful and appreciative of our veterans and the flag," said Asisstant Principal Mike Wortmann. "It makes us all very proud to watch them express pride in America and gratitude toward veterans."

More events planned for Tuesday

District schools will continue their celebration of Veterans Day on Tuesday.

A special campus-wide Dress For Charity day is set for Tuesday, Nov. 10. On that day, all staff members can wear red, white and blue shirts and jeans in exchange for a donation to Camp Hope, a farm in Farmington that provides free, accessible outdoor adventures to combat wounded soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors.

Students are also encouraged to dress in patriotic colors or camo on Tuesday, Nov. 10 and may make a donation as well. A check will then be presented to Mike and Galia White, who founded Camp Hope in honor of their son Christopher, a Marine who was killed in Iraq in 2006. District 32 has supported Camp Hope since its inception through fundraisers, and projects like the construction of chairs, tables and swings by our Career Center students.

Perryville High School will again welcome all Perry County veterans to campus for breakfast at 8 am Tuesday, Nov. 10, hosted by the National Honor Society, and the assembly begins in the PHS gym at 9 am. Check in at the main school office, across the hall from the gym, and students will help you find your way to the cafeteria.

At Perry County Middle School, the Veterans Day assembly will be held at 1:30 pm Tuesday, Nov. 10 in the PCMS gym. All veterans from the community are invited to attend the assembly; check in at the school office.

You can keep up with all of the latest District 32 news by logging on to www.perryville.k12.mo.us.