Caldwell Adventist Elementary School (CAES) honored 23 local veterans with a special program on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2016. The veterans represented all five branches of military service and included both past and current service men and woman.
Two hundred people from the local community attended the program. Each of the 23 veterans attending were recognized individually during the program and given the opportunity to state their rank, area of service and something about themselves.
Idaho American Legion State Vice Commander Sterling Mathis spoke for the service. Mathis said he was impressed with the students and the moving ceremony they put together. The student-led ceremony included patriotic choir pieces, a band number, a skit called The 11th Hour, a video titled H Is for Honor, two poems and historical facts about Veterans Day. Each grade participated in the program — even the preschoolers, reports CAES principal Miranda Starr.
“It was very emotional,” says Tina Williams, a first lieutenant in the Idaho National Guard. “I am so thankful to CAES for the beautiful program they put together.”
“We have so many veterans in both our church and local community, and we wanted to show them our appreciation for their great sacrifice for our country,” says Starr. “We also wanted our students to learn about gratitude and honor. It touched us to see how much the program meant to the veterans who attended.”
A complimentary lunch was served at the end to all of the veterans and grandparents in attendance.
CAES is a preschool- through eighth-grade Christian private school located in Caldwell, Idaho.
The fifth- and sixth-grade boys perform The 11th Hour skit, (from left, front row) Wesley Kluchesky, Jesse Mauricio, Jeremy Waterhouse, Benjamin Starf, (from left, second row) Nathan Congleton, Everett Stone and Dennis Grade.
Twenty-three veterans are honored during the CAES Veterans Day program.
Landon Johnson, Seth Batten and Jon David Carpenter recite a Veteran's Day poem.
American Legion Vice Commander Sterling Mathis spoke for the event.
The CAES band members (from left) Nino Uvay, Abeni Nosik, Mason Russell and Mikayla Creitz play the "Veteran's March."
