Veterans Day program Thursday at Armory

Tomorrow at 2 p.m., the Custer Jr./Sr. High School and American Legion Post No. 46 will present the 29th annual Veterans Day program at the Custer Armory.  All are welcome to attend. Following a welcome by principal Tobey Cass and student body president Emily Borkowski will conduct the presentation of colors by the Custer Veterans Honor Guard, the national anthem sung by the CHS Choir under the direction of Ms. Hannah Rehmeier, as well as the recitation of the pledge of allegiance led by Jr. High student council members Lila Moore, Aniston Morgan and Mya Heller.
Then, Corbin Herman, first vice commander of Legion Post No. 46 will give the invocation and CHS student body secretary Rachel Miklos will give the opening address. The POW/MIA empty chair presentation will be given by students Chloe Carder and Mical Grace.
The elementary students, directed by Jody Tennyson, will perform two songs, “Thankful for the U.S.A.” by Teressa Jennings and “On Veterans Day” by Karl Hitzemann. Makenna Allen will perform a dramatic reading of “Take a Moment to Thank a Veteran.” Hannah Rehmeier will direct the Jr./Sr. High students in performing “No Greater Love” by Mike Wilson and “America” by Robert Hunter.
Following those performances, Lauryn Robb will introduce the guest speaker for the program, Chuck Johnson. Johnson is the superintendant of the State Veterans Home. Johnson dedicated 22 years of service to the U.S. Army and the Iowa National Guard, serving one combat tour in Afghanistan.
During his service, he supervised ground ambulance platoons, trained medics and conducted live ground-to-air evac operations. After his speech, the CHS Band will play the “Marches of the Armed Forces” as veterans are recognized, and then veterans will also be individually recognized.
A video recognizing deceased veterans will also be presented, put together by the CHS video production class, taught by Mrs. Alexa Winkler.
Evan Petell and Isaiah Savery will play “Taps” and Herman will give the benediction before the retiring of the colors by the Custer Veterans Honor Guard.
After the closing remarks, the CHS band will play “Stars and Stripes Forever” by J.P. Sousa, ending the program.
The same afternoon Hermosa School will hold its Veterans Day program at 2:30 p.m.
Today at noon Elk Mountain School held its Veterans Day Program, which included a soup and pie lunch and students holding a question and answer session with veterans.
Saturday on Veterans Day, there will be a ceremony held at the Veterans Memorial.
Custer Veterans Honor Guard will render honors at the Custer Veterans Memorial Park. Taps and a rifle volley will take place at 11 a.m. A luncheon hosted at VFW Post 3442 will follow.
In Hermosa on Saturday from 5-7 p.m. Hermosa American Legion Post 303 will serve a dinner consisting of chili, chicken noodle soup and chicken with rice (gluten free) soup. Dessert will be cake.
The public is invited to attend.