Local military veterans honored with annual ceremony at BHS
By Tony Pilkington and Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Breckenridge High School honored local U.S. military veterans with its annual Veterans Day Celebration on Monday, Nov. 10, in the high school gym.
The ceremony opened with the Breckenridge High School band playing “This is My Country” and a salute to the veterans from local scout troops. Veterans were escorted in by BHS STUCO members as Scouting America troops, Cub Scouts Pack 81 and Girls Troop 72 led by Matt Wunsch and Boy Scout Troop 63 led by Brian Kight, lined up and saluted them.
The flags from the different branches of the military along with the POW/MIA flag were brought in to the gym and posted by local and area veterans, VFW members and BHS students.
The colors were posted by Christian Lechner, left, Breckenridge High School student and local Boy Scout, and Les Strickland, U.S. Marines veteran and American Volunteer Reserve member. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
U.S. Marines veteran and American Volunteer Reserve member Les Strickland and Boy Scout Christian Lechner posted the colors.
Following the welcome by Kim Walker, a BISD teacher and retired coach, First Baptist Church Pastor Andy Rodgers gave the invocation and Scout Matthew Wunsch led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Lizandra Rubio led the Texas Pledge, and Preslie Malcuit sang the National Anthem.
Walker introduced BHS students representing various patriotic American symbolism, including the U.S. flag, Uncle Sam, Rosie the Riveter and the Statue of Liberty. BHS teacher Robert Burchett recognized the honored guests. Shonda Wood sang “God Bless America.” Then 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.
Anthony Kelly, a former BISD teacher and coach and a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, was the featured guest speaker.
Following a performance by Abby Duran and the BHS Drumline, Kim Walker read “The Table” while students set the “Missing Man Table,” also known as the “Fallen Comrade Table.”
Sumer Russell, Stephens County Extension Agent, and several local 4-H members presented a Quilt of Valor to Terry Vick, who served 30 years in the U.S. Army, including deployments to Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Iraq, where he flew combat missions as an Apache helicopter pilot. His granddaughter, Baxli Miles, handed the quilt to him.
Then, Bianca Gotschall sang “Trust in You,” and Strickland, Lechner and Brian Kight conducted a flag ceremony. Following the ceremony, Strickland presented the flag to Walker.
Kelly sang “God Bless the USA,” and Strickland and Lechner then retired the colors. Burchett offered the closing remarks, and Rylee Fuller, Tristen McNett and Matthew Wunsch played Echo Taps.
After the ceremony, the veterans were treated to a reception in the foyer of the gym.
Click here to see more photos from the Veterans Day Celebration in the Breckenridge Texan Gallery.
Baxli Miles presents her grandfather, Terry Vick, a 30-year U.S. Army veteran, with Quilt of Valor that was made by local 4-H members, including Baxli. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Local U.S. military veterans, VFW members and BHS students presented the flags for the different branches of the military. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Cutline, top photo: Following the annual Veterans Day Celebration at Breckenridge High School on Monday, Nov. 10, the local U.S. military veterans in attendance posed for a photo. Click here to see more pictures from the ceremony. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
