The 5th grade students of Malad Elementary School presented the school’s 35th annual Veterans’ Day Program on Thursday, November 9.  The tradition of this memorial program began with teacher Debbie Horsley and music specialist Helen Ward collaborating to have the 4th grade present a patriotic program to honor Oneida County veterans.  The Ernest W. Jones Post #65 of the American Legion has been a major part of the program since the beginning.

Because of COVID, the 4th graders of that year would have lost the opportunity to present a Veterans’ Day program, and so those students presented a program the next year when they were in the 5th grade.  Now the 5th grade students honor the veterans on this special day.

The program was presented by the students three times:  on Wednesday for all students of the school and in the morning and evening of Thursday for parents, family members, and the community. 

The script of the program, entitled “Honoring All Who Served,” was written by the elementary school music specialist Christine Smith, who also selected the music for the program.  She worked closely with the 5th grade teachers, Cinniman Allen, Erika Johnson, and Kallie Blaisdell, who helped the students prepare their speaking parts. Every student memorized and presented a short speaking part on the program.

The auditorium was decorated in United States flags, flags of the military branches, banners, and lights with the giant screen on the stage showing photographs of patriotic scenes. The decorations were the work of the 5th grade teachers and Mrs. Smith. The sound system and lights were coordinated by Kim Jeppson and Trina Grote. The Oneida Education Foundation paid some of the costs of the program.

Ms. Sarah McIntyre, Principal of Malad Elementary School, welcomed everyone to the program after which members of the American Legion posted the colors.  Many members of the American Legion were present at all of the programs.

Students and audience members joined in singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by the students enthusiastically singing all of the military branch songs as  an American Legion member who had served in each branch saluted the flag and all veterans of that branch stood during the song.

Prior to the program (and as featured in The Idaho Enterprise of November 9), the 5th grade students wrote essays about honoring our veterans.  The winners of the contest recited or read their essays during the program. Beginning with 3rd place winner Cassidy Schrenk, followed by 2nd place winner Bryten Bastian and then 1st place winner McCall Clark, the students taught how we should honor those who have served our country.  These students and the other finalists (Alyssa Seamons, Annabelle Schandrew, Eva Coleman, Ivy Wright, Karmyn Charles, and Megan Moss) were presented certificates or cash prizes by Ms. McIntyre and Garry White, Commander of the American Legion. All prizes plus a pizza party for all students were provided by the American Legion.

A special musical number, “We Honor You,” was sung by Madelyn and Liddia Gonzalez as pictures of patriotic scenes were shown on the screen behind them.

A time-honored part of the program featured a slide show of photographs of Oneida County veterans, beginning with those who gave their lives during World War II and the Vietnam War. As music provided a solemn background, the photographs reminded everyone of how young these men and women were when they left Oneida County to serve in the military around the world. 

The last music number of the program was “Spirit of America” by the 5th grade students as they waved red, white, and blue scarves to commemorate the spirit that still inspires patriotism today. The members of the American Legion then retired the colors.