Osmond alum gives Veterans Day address

OSMOND — Veterans, students, staff and community members gathered Thursday, Nov. 11, at Osmond Community School to celebrate Veterans Day with speakers, music and songs.

Members of Osmond American Legion Post 326 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7838 and their auxiliaries, as well as members of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron 326 entered the school gym to music played by the Osmond junior-senior high school band. After presentation of The Colors, the band played the “National Anthem,” followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by elementary students.

Deacom Doug Tunink gave the invocation, blessing the veterans and all who serve and have served.

Osmond Community School Principal Kurt Polt introduced the student who was the winner of this year’s Voice of Democracy speech contest, Zach Reikofski. In his essay, Zach asked the question, “Where should America go from here?” Zach’s speech is printed on Page 5 of this issue.

Following the musical selection “American Dream” by the Osmond 7-12 chorus, VFW Commander Don Streich came to the podium to introduce the speaker, LCDR Katie Erwin, a 2004 graduate of Osmond High School.

Katie began by giving a shout out to her mother, Rhonda, for her birthday that day and for being 20 years cancer free, and called her mother her hero. She also briefly mentioned how good the Osmond band and choir sounded and congratulated Zach Reikofski for his Voice of Democracy speech. Katie then spoke about the origins of Veterans Day, which began a year after the end of World War I, when President Woodrow Wilson commemorated Armistice Day by making it an annual observance, with the hope that WWI would be the war to end all wars. She continued by speaking about the wars that followed, and 9/11, which she said, “is still, to this day, why I wear this uniform.” Her speech is printed in its entirety on Page 5.

Following the musical selection “Let Freedom Ring,” the band continued with “Service Songs,” during which Osmond each of the veterans stood during the playing of their service song.

Deacon Tunink gave the benediction, and the retiring of The Colors was accompanied by the OHS band playing the recessional.

Veterans, spouses and auxiliary members were invited to a lunch in the FCS room of the school following the program.

A color photo page from Veterans Day can be found on Page 10 of this issue.