<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0kLQSc_1H52aebg00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0kLQSc_1H52aebg00" width="1140" height="945" ><figcaption>ELY HONOR GUARD members were on duty at the Veterans Day service held at the Ely School District on Wednesday. Photo by Chris Ellerbroek.</figcaption></figure>The Ely Public Schools honored a long history tied to veterans by getting patriotic for Veterans Day, inviting in the community for musical performances and essay readings.Dozens of local residents filled the gym with students, staff and veterans to mark the event.Ely’s halls will feature a new plaque, dedicated by American Legion Post 248 members, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school’s American Legion donated murals.The murals depict themes of education and industry, “two powerful pillars of a strong and thriving society,” said Post 248 commander William Leoni.“They didn’t give you a monument to war,” Leoni said. “They gave you a vision of the glories of peace and prosperity. They looked at you and the future.”“I encourage you to listen, learn, and understand the importance of service and sacrifice and respect,” said superintendent Anne Oelke. “The veterans here today are living examples of courage, commitment and dedication to something greater than themselves.”The program kicked off with a posting of the colors by the Ely Area Honor Guard and a pledge of allegiance led by Ely students Lily Foy, Amelie Zak and Claire Schartz.The Ely High School Choir sang songs honoring the US Army, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard and the Air Force, wrapping up the performance with “America the Beautiful.”Kindergarteners through second graders also found their time to shine, with two patriotic songs, followed by “My Country ‘tis of Thee” performed by third, fourth and fifth grade students.Winners of the annual VFW essay contest received recognition from VFW Ely Post 2717 commander Michael Pope. Students this year submitted essays describing “What a Veteran Has Taught Me.”Winners of the middle school division, Patriot’s Pen, were honored, with Suvi Kari taking first place, followed by Harvey Fenner-Vogl in second and Kaija Swanson in third.Payson Kundiger took the top prize for the contest’s high school version, The Voice of Democracy, with Siiri Nelson’s writing sliding into second.High school students submit an audio recording of themselves reading their essay to contest judges, along with the writing itself.Reading from her essay, Kundiger said she had been told how fortunate Americans are, thanks in large part to the service of military members.“I never truly understood the weight of those words until later in life, when I watched my aunt, who pursued her biggest dream of serving the Marines, push her body to the absolute limits just to serve our nation,” Kundiger said.Ely High School has a long history linked with local veterans, having been built as a memorial to the 12 Ely men who never returned home from World War I, of the nearly 300 who left to fight.This history is still alive today, said Leoni, who delivered the keynote speech.“As you walk past the murals on your way to class, don’t see it as old paint on the wall. See it as a century-old torch passed down through generations of Ely veterans,” Leoni said.“We still believe in education, we still believe in industry and we still believe in you,” Leoni said.The EHS choir closed the program with a hymn honoring the continuity of service to the country passed through the generations, “American Anthem.”The Ely Area Honor Guard rounded out the proceedings by retiring the colors.</div></body>

Show less about: The Voice

Block Source: Ely Echo

Misinformation

Clickbait

Old or repetitive news

Explicit content

Location not relevant

The Ely Public Schools honored a long history tied to veterans by getting patriotic for Veterans Day, inviting in the community for musical performances and essay readings. Dozens of local residents filled the gym with students, staff and veterans to mark the event. Ely’s halls will feature a new plaque,...

Ely High School’s long ties to veterans on display at Veterans Day program

NewsBreak

The Ely Public Schools honored a long history tied to veterans by getting patriotic for Veterans Day, inviting in the community for musical performances an

Ely High School’s long ties to veterans on display at Veterans Day program

Comments