“Honoring All Who Served” was the theme of the Veteran’s Day program at Benton High School this past week.  Over 100 VIP guests (including Veterans from every branch of the Armed Services, local politicians and school administrators), the entire Benton faculty, parents, and a student body of over 600 listened reverently as Benton’s ROTC Officers and Cadets honored Veterans on this special day.  C/Colonel Tasha Yates served as Emcee for the event, which included the Presentation of Colors by the AJROTC Color Guard, the Invocation by C/SSgt. Mandie Emfinger, and the Pledge of Allegiance by C/SMSgt. Bersheika Player.  The Benton Fighting Tiger Marching Band played throughout the ceremony—including the National Anthem and America the Beautiful.

 
One of the most poignant moments of the program came when the band played an Armed Forces Medley and members of each Armed Service stood as their special service song was played.  The pride the Veterans exhibit in their branch of service, and the enthusiastic response from the audience made this moment special.

Other highlights of the program included readings by C/A1C Brian Woods (“Just A Simple Soldier”); C/Major Chris Magimel (“Freedom is Not Free”); C/2nd Lt. Britnie Mahoney (Patriotic Poem she authored); and C/TSgt. Sonya Cobb (“Letter to the Front”).

Guest Speaker Ivan McKinney, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret), provided the audience with a history of those who were being honored on this day.  From the American Revolution, through the War of 1812 and the Indian and Mexican Wars, the Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf Wars, to today’s global war on terrorism—it has always been the job of the members of the U. S. Armed Forces to protect and defend the freedom of our nation.  Col. McKinney reminded us that we owe these men and women everything, and that we must continue to honor all those who have served and are serving, both living and deceased, for our precious freedoms.

Benton’s ROTC Honor Guard, with C/Captain Olga Georgia, presented a demonstration of the Flag Folding Ceremony and the AFJROTC Armed Drill Team gave an Armed Drill presentation.  The ROTC Sabre Line, under the direction of C/Major Heather Ashton and C/2nd Lt. Kassidee Canfield, gave a POW/MIA presentation.  Taps was played by C/Captain Evan Searing.

The closing of the Veteran’s Day program provided another poignant moment--a Video by Tim Emfinger and Cadet Productions, which honored all Veterans through the ages, and ended with a special tribute to recent graduates of Benton High School who are serving or have served in the Armed Forces. 

The excellence with which this program was created and executed by the ROTC Cadets under the direction of Lt. Col. John Collier and MSgt. Tim Martin, the reverence and appreciation by the student audience (which included a standing ovation at the program’s end), and, most importantly, the Veterans who were honored on this day, made this Benton’s finest assembly of the year.