Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Brist, Hmielak, Zukowski, Pawlak, Lane, Neira
----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI) 11/18/2015
Honoring Our Community’s Veterans (2015)
Every year, The Thorp High School Student Council organizes an honorary program rot the community’s servicemen and women of past and present, and this year was as moving as ever.
After the presentation of colors by American Legion Post 118 and VFW Post 9057 accompanied by Judy Brist, Robert Hmielak, Commander of the American Legion presented Bob Zukowski, son of Robert K. Zukowski, with a lifetime achievement award from the Legion.
The Student Council also asked all veterans and active military members in the audience to introduce themselves as well as share their years of service and branch of military. The audience rose to their feet in appreciation after the last serviceman returned to their seat – applause ringing throughout the gymnasium.
Wednesday’s program found many ways to pay respect to our nation’s heroes, including a touching performance of “America, the Beautiful” by the entire student population of the Thorp School District. After the veteran slide show, the stands were filled with music once again as the students as well as community members joined their voices in the singing of “God Bless America.”
Keynote speaker Chad Pawlak gave a special presentation about another way our nation is honoring its servicemen and women – the Freedom Honor Flight. Pawlak, a trained volunteer with the program, gave an insight the importance of the program and how much it means to all those WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans who have never been to Washington D.C. to see the memorials that were erected in their honor. Chad and his wife Jo Ann put together a video depicting the Honor Flight, including images from their recent trip during the 16th Honor Flight, which Chad took with Henry Lane, WWII and Korean War veteran.
As the 2015 Veterans Day program drew to a close, the entire gymnasium fell quiet for a moment of silence before members of the Thorp High School band performed “Taps.” John Neira, administrator at Thorp Elementary School and local veteran ,gave the closing remarks, thanking all who attended to pay homage to the brave men and women who paid for our freedom.
This group of six photos shows how that community and school audience honored the veterans of Thorp.
Submitted photos
