BISD honors veterans with annual ceremony
Local students and organizations came together Tuesday, Nov. 12, for Breckenridge’s annual Veterans Day Program honoring U.S. Military veterans.
The student councils of Breckenridge Junior High and High School, along with Kim Walker, Donna Schkade, Amanda Farmer and several community groups, presented the program in the Breckenridge ISD Athletic Facility and Fine Arts Center.
Local Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts participated in the Veterans Day Program on Tuesday, Nov. 12. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
The program featured salutes to local and area veterans by several organizations. The BHS Buckaroo Band provided the music and the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts saluted as the honored veterans were escorted into the gym by the Student Council members. The American Volunteer Reserve participated, posting and retiring the colors.
Following the introduction by Kim Walker, a retired BHS teacher and coach, and a welcome by BHS Assistant Principal Jennifer Brown, Axel Puebla, the BHS STUCO president, gave the invocation and Zaea Ragle and Liberty Blades led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Pledge. Avery Rodgers sang the National Anthem, and the South Elementary Singers, directed by Rakel Paul, performed “You Are Our Heroes,” singing and using sign language.
The Buckaroo Band played the official songs of the five branches of the U.S. Military — the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard — and the veterans stood during the song for their branch. BHS teacher Robert Burchett recognized the honored guests, and the First Baptist Church Praise Team, led by Daniel Bertrand, performed “We Remember.”
The BHS band played the official songs of each branch of the U.S. Military as the veterans were honored. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Several students dressed in historical costumes they put together themselves for a historical parade.The parade was presented by Walker; Brown; BHS and BJHS STUCO members; Daughters of the American Revolution; Mary Thompson, Regent (DAR); Lisa Echols, District 10 Director (DAR); and the Picketville Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.
Walker read “The Table” while students set the “Missing Man Table,” also known as the “Fallen Comrade Table.” Shonda Wood performed the “Wind Beneath My Wings,” and Breckenridge High School teacher and coach Anthony Kelly sang “God Bless the USA.”
Brown offered the closing remarks, and Tanner Chambers, Magdeline Paul and Payton Russell played Echo Taps.
After the ceremony, the veterans and student council members gathered for a reception.
For more photos from the Veterans Day Program, click here to see the Breckenridge Texan Gallery.
Cutline, top photo: Local veterans were honored with the BISD’s annual Veterans Day Program on Nov. 12, 2019. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
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