Charger News

Cookeville High remembers past heroes in Veterans Day Program

Alison Palmer, Charger Staff

Veterans Day is a time set aside to remember and honor those who courageously served in the United States armed forces. On Thursday, Nov. 12, a ceremony honoring Cookeville’s veterans was held in the CHS auditorium.

Darlene Hatcher of the Cookeville High School faculty is the mastermind behind this annual ceremony. Hatcher says that it is important to honor the veterans in this way because “it gives kids an opportunity to learn about them.”

To open the assembly, Daniel Flatt, senior class president, welcomed everyone, and the JROTC presented and posted the colors. The Pledge of Allegiance followed, and the audience was introduced to the Cookeville High School band playing the “Star Spangled Banner”.

Vice president of FCA Rachael Crook gave the invocation.

Following a speech by Hal Denton, the band played the “Armed Forces Salute,” and the JROTC presented the armed forces flags while each veteran in the audience stood when his or her flag was displayed.

Faculty and staff members who are also veterans were given special recognition as well.

Some veterans were unable to graduate high school because of their service in the military during World War II. Recognizing their service as their education, Putnam County Director of Schools, Dr. Michael Martin and Senator Charlotte Burks presented these veterans with high school diplomas and also presented dipolomas to the families of deceased veterans.

The band then played “Liberty Fanfare”, and winner of the Voice of Democracy oratorical contest, Holly Lane, presented her speech on the importance of honoring veterans.

The ceremony took a solemn turn during the moment of silence as people paused and with bowed heads remembered all who valiantly served to preserve the freedoms of people around the world.

To close, the JROTC retired the colors, and FCA president Bill Ferrell gave the benediction.
Martin said, “It is important that we honor veterans because of their individual sacrifices, but more importantly because we are honoring the values of our country and the passing on of tradition and culture.”

He also appreciated that students were involved in every aspect of the program. “I’m proud of the high school students who make the rest of us look good,” Martin said.