Ponca Public School Veterans’ Program
In honor of Veterans Day celebrated on Tuesday, November, 11, 2014, Ponca Public School hosted a school and community-wide program entitled, “Tempered Steel Wounded Warrior Project”.
Veterans and auxiliary members from the American Legions of: Ponca, Jackson, Dakota City, South Sioux City, Allen, Newcastle, Martinsburg, Waterbury, and Homer, and current military personnel attended the observance.
The Ponca Boy Scout Troop # 200 presented the five service flags that the troop had donated to the American Legion Chapelle Post # 117 for Veterans Day 2012. The boy scouts presenting the flags were: 4th grader- Jarrett Denker, and 5th graders: Matthew Lentz, Caiden Bellows, Dalton Anderson, and Aidan Cook.
Elementary student council vice president Kaden Fields led everyone in saying the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the band playing the National Anthem, directed by Mrs. Jessica Steckly.
Elementary and high school student council presidents, Josie Reid and Kianna Kramper gave the welcome. High school student council vice president Alex Rickett read a proclamation by President Obama.
Mrs. Kari Lowe directed the third through sixth grade students in singing “God Bless the USA” and the Jr. High/High School Chorus in singing “The Glory” which included solos by Kianna Kramper and Sam Brickett. Mrs. Jessica Steckly and the Jr./Sr. High Band accompanied the Jr./Sr. High Chorus.
High school student council members Hannah Albrecht and Sophie Kramper recognized all veterans and military men and women in attendance at the program. Twelfth Grade students Tara Millard and Colton Oswald each spoke about being students and military members.
Mr. Bob Ehrig, a wounded warrior speaker for Tempered Steel Wounded Warrior Project, was unable to participate due to weather related cancelled airline flights. Tempered Steel Wounded Warrior Project founder Luana Schneider spoke via video about how and why Tempered Steel Wounded Warriors was founded.
Hannah Albrecht and Jo Jo Harding, treasurers of the High School and Elementary Student Councils presented a check donation in the amount of $1,395.00 to Ms. Reznicek to be given to Tempered Steel Wounded Warrior Project. The donation was made possible from proceeds from fund raising projects, character meeting and staff donations, Ponca School’s Music Boosters and the Elementary and High School Student Councils.
Ms. Joan Reznicek, Ponca School Superintendant, gave the closing remarks.
During the program a multimedia series of computer visuals were projected on a large screen by Ponca School’s technologist Mrs. Kristie Hayes.