Raymondville School honored veterans during its Family Fun Night last week. More than 100 people enjoyed a night out honoring and visiting with veterans. After a chili/soup dinner, people visited a variety of centers.
They were: visit a veteran, games, slide show of veterans from the many wars, movie and book display, color/worksheet, paper plate American symbols, color, cut and paste American Presidents and writing to a veteran.
At the end of the evening, a ceremony was held to honor those veterans attending. Superintendent Nathan Holder led the reciting of the “Pledge of Allegiance.” The audience joined Debbie Jett as she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” accompanied by her husband, the Rev. David Jett, on the piano.
A poem, “The Things That Make a Soldier Great,” was read by fifth grader Trudee Ellsworth to honor her father and all soldiers.
Her father, 1st Sgt. Robert Ellsworth (retired), was the guest speaker. After an inspiring speech, Ellsworth called forth the veterans attending representing World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, Gulf War and War on Terrorism (Afghanistan and Iraq).
Those attending were Pfc. Arthur Oglesby, SP4 Tod Davidson, SP4 Harold Crowl, Sgt. E-5 Michael Henn, Lance Cpl. Michael Wilkins, Col. Don Shelhammer, Pfc. Harvey Ryno, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Virgil Richards, Staff Sgt. Gerald Mealy, STGCS Charlie Dilmore, 1st Sgt. Robert Ellsworth (retired), SP4 Ralph Erbschloe, E4 Roy King, SP4 Avery Barton, SPC Edward Quinlan and AFSSG William Davidson.
The audience gave them a standing ovation. All remained standing, while tears were shed listening to “Some Gave All,” as a tribute to those veterans who have passed on and acknowledging that many soldiers gave the “supreme sacrifice” by dying in battle or due to wounds incurred in battle.