RHS honors veterans

Photo by Tyler Hargett
Russellville High School students perform for Veterans Day, Nov. 7.

By Tyler Hargett for the FCT

tyler.hargett@fct.wpengine.com

Honor, courage and sacrifice are words used to describe America’s veterans, and Russellville High School helped to promote this last Monday morning through the school’s annual Veterans Day program held at the RCS Auditorium. Consisting of students from the 6th-12th grade, the program encouraged all veterans, current service men and women and their families to attend.

The program began with the Posting of Colors (flag ceremony), presented by members of the JROTC and led by Lt. Col. Norman Lier and 1st Sgt. Michael Conner. Senior Class President Mercedes South led the Pledge of Allegiance and the call for the National Anthem. The Anthem was performed by members of 6th-8th grade Performing Arts and High School Theatre II.

Superintendent Heath Grimes welcomed everyone and then gave the stage to student Logan Forsythe. Forsythe presented a video of his father, Army Capt. Logan Forsythe, and Navy veteran Frank Seay, talking about their experiences in their respective branches. The 6th grade students then performed Inscription of Hope, a song whose lyrics are made up of text found written on a cellar wall during the rise of Nazi Germany.

The winner of the school’s Veterans Essay Contest (part of the government/economics class taught by Coach Kyle Taylor) was announced as senior Tristan Patrick, who then read his speech onstage. This was followed by the 7th and 8th grade students performing Toby Keith’s “American Soldier,” a speech by Lier, and the 9th-12th grade students performing Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind.”

Finally, all of the students gathered back onstage for their Armed Forces Salute, honoring all Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Marines veterans, with any present asked to stand during their branch’s song. Taps was performed by band director Jeremy Willis.

The program was directed by choral teacher Emily Rush, drama teacher Patrice Smith and English teacher Sarah Jane Davis.