Respect, tears and applause were reactions from the Tri-Rivers student body at the 2010 Salute to Veterans Assembly
held Monday, November 8 in the Giauque Auditorium at the Career Center.

The event coordinated by the Social Studies Department honored local veterans for their service to our country. The veterans were escorted to their seats by ambassador club members while a video tribute, created by Digital Media Instructor Mark Yannitell, played in the background.

Social Studies instructor Jim Longo introduced the veterans and welcomed guests and students. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by preschool student Liam Curtis. The preschool class then performed This Land is Your Land.

Social Studies Instructor Heather Jenkins presented “What is Veteran’s Day,” and then introduced Bobbi Richards, director of the Honor Flight Columbus, an organization that recognizes and celebrates World War II veterans by flying them to Washington, D.C. to visit memorials dedicated to their important service at no cost to them.

Richards said,  “It is so important that we help these veterans overcome barriers so they may visit the World War II Memorial. It is a long overdue tribute to the men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom, and a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Gerald “Van” Van Arsdale, WWII Veteran, shared his firsthand experiences of the war where he and his twin, George, both served. “George and I tore a $2 bill in half when we parted. I came back; he never did. He died September 17, 1945 when a typhoon capsized the ship he was serving aboard. My better half was gone.”

During the war Van Arsdale served on a blimp. “The Goodyear blimps that you see are 163 feet long; the one I flew on was 267 feet long.” His job involved making sure the bombs were ready to go.

The 85-year-old said his trip to the World War II Memorial through Honor Flight Columbus was “hard to describe in words. I was able to pull up my brother’s name up on the computer there. I found out he died on a Monday, I hadn’t known that.”

Richards said all World War II Veterans—from the greatest generation—deserve the opportunity to take this trip. “We work hard to make it happen.”

She also said veterans from all wars deserve a thank you. “Students when you see someone that is wearing something that signifies they are a veteran, approach them and shake their hand and say “thank you.”

Following the ceremony, students had the opportunity to shake the hands of the veterans in attendance, including:  Gerald “Van’ Van Arsdale,  Bob Packer, Larry Clarkson, Darrell Lowry, Warren Foster, Dave Baer, Dave Woessner, Tim Holt, Jeff Young and Rowland McElheny.

(Special thanks to the Social Studies Team of Heather Jenkins, Jim Longo and Roy Schweinfurth for planning and coordinating this event.)