Honoring and understanding

MONTROSE  — This week will be a time for recognition, thanks and respects for those that served and continue to serve our country.

On Monday, the Montrose High School will host its annual Veteran's Day Assembly. The decade-old event starts at 1:20 p.m. in the Lloyd McMillan Gym (veteran's are asked to arrive at 1 p.m.).

"It's an important event because we are recognizing people who fought for us to keep our country free," said Daniel Rowan, MHS student council member and junior class president.

The event provides students with an opportunity to meet local veterans and hear their stories.

"Hearing their experiences, I think it makes us appreciate them more," Rowan said.

The event will feature keynote speaker, retired Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Goforth. The band will play "Armed Forces Salute (Medley)," which recognizes all the military branches. The choir will sing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

During the event, school district teachers who have served in the military will be recognized and several students will speak on the veterans in their lives.

The assembly is put on by MHS student council, who this year invited all students to participate in an essay contest. About 20 students entered, and three were chosen to read their essays during the assembly.

On Tuesday, the day before Veteran's Day, Centennial Middle School will also recognize veterans during their 14th annual Veteran's Day Assembly. It takes place at 9 a.m. in the school's gym.

"Over the years, we've had great response from the community. Veteran's groups have be supportive and anxious to participate. The local Army National Guard has been involved, along with local recruiters," said Shawn Lund, Centennial teacher and chairman of the assembly's committee.

This year's keynote speaker is Montrose Mayor Jose Abeyta, who was drafted into the Army in 1969 and spent 10 months of his two-year term in Vietnam working with a military intelligent unit, providing aviation support.

"I have a lot of feelings," he said. "And I will talk about Vietnam vets because that is what I know."

Abeyta plans to discuss his experiences, how it affected his life and the sacrifices he made, along with the problems and confusion the Vietnam War caused.

"I think part of the problem with kids in middle school, because of their age, is that their only connection (to Vietnam) is probably their grandparents," Abeyta said.

The role of the assemblies is to "salute" those who have made sacrifices, but it is also an opportunity for students to more closely understand what those sacrifices are, Lund said.

Over the years, the schools have had a variety of speakers, many of which were current or past educators.

Last year's high school assembly featured MMH English teacher and veteran James Paulich, who spent eight years of active duty as an Army captain and member of the 3rd U.S. Calvary Regiment.

Three year's ago, Centennial featured Col. Richard White, Army retiree who served for 30 years. After his military career, White became a math teacher at Centennial.

For more information on the assemblies, contact the schools — Centennial, 249-2576; MHS, 249-6636.