A large crowd gathered at Cook County High School November 11, 2010 to honor America’s veterans. Top: The American Legion Post #413 Honor Guard punctuated the band concert with a flag ceremony. Above left: Senior Sarah Warren sang the Star Spangled Banner. Above right: Honor Guard (L-R): Commander Don Wilson, Jim Anderson, Bob Mattson, Orvis Lunke, and Jim Ford.
“I would like to thank all the men and women who have served or are serving in our military.” That was one of the opening remarks made by Cook County High School junior Ashley Ross on Veterans Day, November 11, 2010, at a band concert honoring the veterans of Cook County.
It meant a lot coming from Ross, whose father, Sergeant First Class Michael Ross, is serving in Afghanistan. “On behalf of my dad and my family,” Ross said, “I would like to thank the community for all of their support.”
Ross’s father is one of 1,580,225 U.S. troops on active duty around the world, along with another 365,000 on call with the Reserves.
Ross explained that Veterans Day was established in 1954 to honor all those who have served in U.S. wars. Helping to continue that tradition was this concert, punctuated at the beginning and end with a flag ceremony by the American Legion Post #413 Honor Guard.
Everyone stood when CCHS senior Sarah Warren sang a passionate rendition of the Star
Spangled Banner,
but during a piece that followed, only those who had served in the military stood while their branches’ theme songs were played. They were applauded.
Capping off the ceremony were sophomore Shelby Ahrendt and eighth grader Lars Scannell playing Taps
antiphonally.
Thecrowd was moved. And grateful.
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