Oskaloosa High School Students Invite Area Veterans to November 11th Assembly
Members of the Oskaloosa High School Student Council visited Oskaloosa News to talk about the upcoming Veterans Day Assembly.
The event starts at 1 p.m. in the Oskaloosa High School gym. All veterans are welcome, and no registration or special invitation is needed.
Recently, members of the Oskaloosa High School Student Council visited the Oskaloosa News studio to talk about the event and share why honoring veterans matters to them.
Local Army Veteran to Speak
This year’s guest speaker is Hunter Else, who graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 2018, served in the U.S. Army, and became a sergeant.
Else came back to Oskaloosa and now helps coach the high school football team.
The program will also feature student speeches, a slideshow, and music from the high school band.
The band is getting ready to play an Armed Forces medley with songs from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. Veterans will be invited to stand when their branch’s song is played.
Students are also encouraged to write essays about what people can learn from veterans’ stories. Some of these essays might be shared during the assembly.
Students from Oskaloosa Middle School will also be there.
Learning from Those Who Served
Student Council member Jonah DeVore said that talking with veterans in the past has influenced his plans to join the Army.
DeVore said those talks taught him about leadership, military service, and why it’s important to treat others with respect. They also helped him decide to pursue Army ROTC.
Other students talked about how hearing veterans share their experiences helps younger people better understand military service and sacrifice.
Information for Veterans Attending
Veterans can arrive as early as 12:30 p.m. and should use the north activities entrance near the tennis courts. This is the same entrance used for high school sports events.
There will be seating for guests in the gym.
After the assembly, veterans are invited to stay for pie, cookies, coffee, and water. Students hope to spend that time visiting with veterans and learning more about their experiences.
The assembly will also be broadcast for anyone who can’t attend in person.
The Student Council invites all area veterans to come to the November 11 program and give students a chance to recognize their service.
