The Southsider Voice
Visit us at these places!
  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Sports
    • Car Nutz
    • Stilley Goes Trackside
    • Southside Deaths
    • Personal Recollections
    • Reminiscing
  • About the Voice
  • Advertising
  • Newspaper Archive
  • Contact

Veterans Day

11/21/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Military veterans gathered together following the Veterans Day program at South Grove. The Southsider Voice’s Fred Shonk, far left, back row, was among retired veterans who were recognized at the celebration.
Picture
(SUBMITTED PHOTOS) South Grove Intermediate School teachers, from left, Beth Walker, Tamara Truman and Melinda Case took part in the Veterans Day program at the Beech Grove school.
It seems to me that Veterans Day is becoming a more celebrated day in the last few years. I noticed several television commercials and print advertisements offering Veterans Day deals, particularly restaurants with discounts and free items for veterans.

Veterans Day is Nov. 11, the date in 1911 of the end of World War I. The official end of the war was signed by President Woodrow at exactly 11:00 a.m. So, the month, day and time are 11-11-11 – very special.

Many of my friends and high school classmates either joined or were drafted into military service, mostly around the time of the Vietnam war. My military service came from my enlistment in the Indiana National Guard. My signing date was to have been Nov. 22, 1963, but it was delayed due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on that date.

The six years I served in the Indiana National Guard were very good. I was assigned to a unit responsible for the care and maintenance of all the military aircraft of the Indiana National Guard. I made several new friends and was honored to serve with several guys that I grew up with or who were schoolmates.

This year, I attended the Veterans Day program at South Grove Intermediate School in Beech Grove. For about 12 years, I drove a school bus for Beech Grove City Schools and one of my routes was with South Grove students. Also, Stuart and I do a weekly reading program at two Beech Grove schools and South Grove is one of them. We have been a part of that program for several years.

Stuart did not accompany me to South Grove for the Veterans Day program, but I told him afterward about the very special program that I attended.

Several students took part in the program. The 5th Veterans Day choir performed several special songs, including “Hooray for the USA” and “America the Beautiful.” Teachers Kelly Agee and Beth Walker led the singing of ‘God Bless America.” Walker also sang The National Anthem. Beech Grove High School student Seth Rumler played “Taps.” Some students read narratives poems. Boy Scout Troop 108 presented the American flag and closed the ceremony. South Grove teachers and retired veterans Tamara Truman (SSG, retired) and Melinda Case (SPC) were the guest speakers.

At one point of the program, veterans were asked to stand and be recognized. I was proud to stand for the U.S. Army and the Indiana National Guard along with many veterans at the ceremony. Afterward, we were asked to stand in the hallway so that the South Grove students could shake our hands or give us a high five. Many of the students asked me, “Where is Stuart?”

It was also an honor for Stuart that they asked about him.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Fred Shonk

    Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools. 

    Archives

    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

 DROP OFF: The Toy Drop 6025 Madison Ave., Suite D
Indianapolis, IN  46227  |  317-781-0023
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 17187

ads@southsidervoice.com | news@southsidervoice.com
Website by IndyTeleData, Inc.