By ELLEN KOLMAN - Staff Writer - ekolman@starbeacon.com
JEFFERSON — As the last strain of the bagpipe lingered on the breeze, Rock Creek Elementary sixth-graders, McKenna Kelley and Ashley Occhionero reflected on what they heard and saw at the Veteran’s Day celebration in Jefferson Wednesday morning.
“I’m learning about why the veterans fought for us,” Kelley said.
Occhionero agrees and believes it is important to always support the troops.
“I have to thank the good Lord for giving us this great weather for our celebration,” said Durward Newhard, commander of the Jefferson VFW Post 3334. “The enthusiasm of the students here, you can see their feelings with their attitudes. It is great to see more of them every year.”
Jefferson Village Administrator Terry Finger agrees.
“It is nice to have the students’ support of this event,” he said. “This celebration is the least we can do to show our appreciation for our veterans.”
Pastor Jerry Bentley of the First Baptist Church in Jefferson spoke to the large crowd of all ages who huddled from the chill in the center of town.
“From the book of Luke, scripture says, ‘to whom much is given, much is required,’ and our nation has been given much,” Bentley said. “Our servicemen and women wherever they served, they were our great warriors in battle who selflessly gave of themselves to defend the innocent and respect the dignity of all wherever they served.”
