St. Croix Central honors area veterans

St. Croix Central Middle School’s annual Veterans Day program went off without a hitch, according to SCC middle school counselor Kathleen Brossmer, who said the event was conducted wonderfully and respectfully.

“The kids were outstanding,” Brossmer said. “I think that they showed a lot of respect.”

The program featured a color guard made up of scouts from Girl Scout troops 53775 and 53789 and Boy Scouts from Troop 161 and Webelos Scout Pack 161.

The program also featured many middle school students including the middle school student council, who led the program and the SCC middle school band and choir, who each performed a piece in honor of the veterans.

The keynote speaker, Timothy Olsen, father of eighth-grader Bailey Olsen and sixth-grader Tyler Olsen, reminded the gathered parents, veterans, students and community members that veterans are normal people. Normal people, Olsen said, who have done what they needed to do to protect the United States of America.

“All veterans have given some part of themselves to their country,” Olsen said. He reminded the audience of those who had given time and lives to their country, asking them to remember their sacrifices. Olsen also asked the audience to talk with the veterans they knew, old and young, and listen to their stories.

Olsen closed with thanks to those who put on the program.

“I want to thank you for the day of remembrance, well done,” he said.

After Olsen’s speech, the veterans present came forward to be recognized with the SCC student or teacher who invited them, and shared their names, branch of service and years of service.

Those who never returned from war (prisoners of war, those missing in action and those killed in action) were recognized with a moment of silence.

Brossmer said she is proud of the students for their work on the Veteran’s Day program.

“They understood the sacrifice of the veterans as being something that needed to be honored,” Brossmer said. “They did so with a great deal of dignity.”

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