Nov 11, 2016 By Steve Barrett 7 min read

WAYNESBURG – Patriotism and honor were riding high inside the Waynesburg Central High School auditorium Tuesday as students and faculty from Waynesburg Central Elementary School presented a special program that honored local veterans for their service.

The large number of veterans who attended the Veterans Day event inside the high school auditorium were treated to a wide array of patriotic activities conducted by the elementary students, including class presentations, numerous songs and poems, a video presentation honoring all veterans, patriotic sing-alongs, a guest speaker and more.

The event started with the Stars and Stripes March with the kindergarten class, followed by a welcome by WCES Principal Scott Headlee and teachers Nichole Trollman and Jill Heldreth.

The service continued with the Presentation of Flags by Waynesburg American Legion members and the Pledge of Allegiance. A video was then presented of the first- and second-grade students singing “God Bless America,” followed by a keynote address by U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Matthew Rogers.

Rogers, an operations and legal chief who served in active duty from 2011 to 2015 and as a reserve until 2019, spoke about feeling humbled when he is thanked for his service.

“It is a great honor to have been asked to speak at this Veteran’s Day celebration,” he said. “When Mr. Headlee and Ms. Trollman approached me about speaking, I was immediately humbled. This coincides with the similar feeling I get when someone thanks me for my service. It is a truly humbling gesture and I feel that I speak on behalf of most veterans when I say that we do not expect such things from anyone.

“As a matter of fact, most of us do not say much back other than a simple ‘You’re welcome’ or give a nod of the head and a shake of the hand,” he continued. “In part, I believe this is because many of us do not feel as though we need such recognition. Thanking us for our service is likening to that of thanking us for going golfing on a beautiful day or enjoying a day off from work. It is not a burden or displeasure. It is a most welcome service that I am sure that many veterans enjoyed just as I did.”

Rogers also spoke about the history and significance of Veterans Day.

“I realize some of the younger students in here may not fully understand what a veteran is,” he said. “A veteran is anyone who served any of the five branches of the United States Armed Forces, those being the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps. Veterans Day is annually celebrated on November 11th. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, World War 1 came to an end and thus, Veterans Day was established.

“Having been given the opportunity to speak on this matter on front of the young minds that I work around every day is a great blessing,” he continued. “And watching the students, staff and community come together to honor those that have served provides me great comfort and joy.”

In his closing remarks, Rogers encouraged area residents to support their veterans.

“If you know anyone who is a veteran and is having trouble dealing with any portion of their lives, please by all means reach out and give them a hand,” he said. “Assistance is available through a multitude of avenues – be it the Veterans Affairs office or any of several established foundations and organizations such as the American Legion, Wounded Warriors Project, BootCampaign.com, HealingHeroes.org and many, many more.”

He also had final words to the students and to the veterans in attendance.

“Thank you for all the hard work and dedication you put in to make this day possible,” he said. “Over the past couple weeks I have seen you all tirelessly working with your teachers as well (and others) to be prepared for today and what a great job you have done. Additionally, be sure to thank a veteran this Friday. It will certainly be appreciated.

“And lastly to my fellow veterans in attendance: Thank you for your service and sacrifice,” he concluded. “It is because of you and those before you that we are able to attend such celebrations. Have a great Veterans Day, God Bless and Semper Fidelis!”

Following Rogers’ comments, students sang more patriotic songs. The third-graders sang “America the Beautiful,” the fourth-graders performed “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and the fifth-graders sang “You Are Our Heroes.”

The students then gave a presentation about the American flag and explained the significance behind each fold, as a handful of students demonstrated the folds.

After the flag presentation, the program recognized the area veterans in the audience, presented a movie tribute by the fifth-grade “News Crew,” and ended the program with a stirring performance of the song “The Heart of America” by the students.

And all throughout the service, the students waved American flags and cheered the veterans.

The programs handed out to all attendees provided a fitting tribute to the veterans, with this statement: “To all the veterans who served our country with valor, patriotism and bravery, this (service) is a small tribute for what you have given us.”

At the conclusion of the event, many veterans, including Skip Black, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam conflict and who currently serves as Commander of Carmichaels VFW Post 3491, said he was touched and honored by the service.

“This is such an exceptional service,” Black said. “I’m sure I speak for many local veterans when I thank the school district for presenting this tribute. It’s wonderful that the kids and teachers do this … it’s great not only for the veterans but also because it gets the children involved too.”

The program has been presented by elementary schools in the Central Greene School District for many years.

It was originally offered at Perry Elementary School, and after the school closed and the Waynesburg Central Elementary School opened, the program has been held there around Veterans Day every year since, for the past six years.

Trollman, who has been instrumental in coordinating the event for the past six years, said the elementary center is honored to pay tribute to area veterans through the program.

“Coming from a military family, I am very passionate about recognizing and celebrating veterans,” said Trollman, whose mother retired from the U.S. Navy after 21 years of service and whose father is currently serving in the U.S. Army.

“I feel it is so important to instill in our students a respect for those who have served or are still serving in the military. So many staff and students have personal connections to the military, so this program has a special place in all of our hearts.

“We are so grateful for all those who collaborated to help make the program possible,” she added. “We are also thankful that the community joins us in support of our celebration of veterans.”

Trollman added that while preparing for the program, students enjoyed doing such things as learning the patriotic songs, recording interviews for the movie tribute, learning how to correctly fold the American flag and making “Thank You” cards for veterans.

“Each student is involved in learning about the meaning of Veterans Day,” she said. “You can tell by the smiles on the students’ faces and the waving of their flags that they are excited to celebrate this special day.”

Other Veterans Day programs, services and parades were held earlier in the week.

The Waynesburg Veterans Day parade was held on Nov. 5; a veterans commemoration was held at the United Methodist Church in Rogersville on Sunday; and Harvey’s Aleppo Grange in Graysville held an “Honor the Veterans” event on Wednesday.

There are two Veterans Day events scheduled to be held on Friday, Nov. 11.

American Legion Filer-Sadlek Post 954 in Jefferson will hold its annual Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11 at 10:45 a.m., followed by a program and a Post Everlasting Ceremony at Jefferson-Morgan High School; and Carmichaels American Legion Post 400 will hold a service at the Post on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m.