BISMARCK -- The Bismarck School District honored area veterans with a breakfast and assembly on Nov. 10, the day before Veterans Day.
The Bismarck Lions Club sponsored the event. Family and consumer science teachers Christina Hain and Lisa Gibson prepared the meal, while their students hosted and served the veterans and their families.
The assembly was attended by both high school and middle school students. Bismarck Middle School Principal Ellen Coleman hosted the event.
Band directors Timothy Snow, Michael Copeland and Henderson State University intern Jaco Dowdy played the national anthem with vocals from the Bismarck High School choir, directed by Robin Agee. The choir also performed an a capella rendition of "God Bless America."
The winners of the middle school's Patriot's Pen essays read their work to the audience, which included several dozen area veterans. The topic was "America's Gift to my Generation."
Middle school winners were sixth-graders Nate Hieter, Carlie Plyler and Loghan Carter; seventh-graders Paige Moore and Kaydie Jordan; and eighth-graders Ethan Davis and Joey Shankles.
The program concluded with a medley of all Armed Services march songs for each branch of the military. Veterans, as well as all audience members, were asked to stand when the song representing the branch they were in, as well as those who held someone special in that branch.
Dignitaries in attendance included Hot Spring County Judge Dennis Thornton, who said several members of his family fought in the military, and Bismarck School Board member Amy Fendley, an Army veteran who obtained the rank of E2.
The eldest veteran in attendance was Art Jones, 86 of Bismarck. Jones was a sergeant in the Marine Corps.
The youngest veteran in attendance was Christian Stanich, 23, who completed his time in the Marine Corps two months ago. Stanich is a Bismarck High School graduate.
Other veterans to attend were Joe Rios III, 77, an Army sergeant/senior class; Deniss Tonselh, 72, Army Special C4; Steve Lindstrom, 60, Navy E5; Same Kell, 36 Army staff sergeant; Reece Lockhart, 45, Marine Cpl. E4; Jon Tenbrink, 39, Army sergeant; Makisha Tenbrink, 38, Navy E5; and Frank Perry, 84, Marine Corp Cpl.
Coleman thanked the Bismarck Lions Club for their help in sponsoring the program, as well as all of the veterans and their families who sacrificed through the years.
Former principal of Bismarck Middle School, Col. Michael Spraggins, commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Arkansas National Guard, hosted the Veterans Day program the last three years. Spraggins is currently serving in Kosovo.
School on 11/26/2017