Warsaw Marks Veterans Day With Programs And Pageantry

The Warsaw High School Student Council, National Honor Society and FCCLA honored local veterans at their annual Veterans’ Day Assembly on November 9 in the WHS gym.  Veterans and their families were invited for breakfast served by Student Council, NHS and FCCLA members.

After breakfast, the veterans and the WHS and JBMS students were entertained by the WHS vocal and instrumental music departments.

Master Gunnery Sergeant Jeff Polly was the featured speaker at the assembly

After graduating from WHS in 1992, Polly attended recruit training in San Diego, California.  Throughout his career spanning over 26 years, he has provided security at a naval submarine base, served as a machine gunner, light armored reconnaissance marine, in supply management and as a recruiter. 

Polly has served in 15 different countries, conducted various humanitarian missions and participated in combat operations in Afghanistan in 2001 as an infantry unit leader.

Polly spoke to the students about the history of Veterans’ Day as well as the importance of service to the country.

“I joined the Marines to be a part of something bigger than myself,” said Polly. 

Polly is the son of Warsaw librarian JoAnn Glowczewski and Jim Polly.

In addition to Polly’s address, WHS junior Madeline Schockmann performed “The Star Spangled Banner” followed by a performance by the WHS band of “United We Stand”.

LeeAnn Rozzel of the WHS Speech Team read a poem and Kaylee Lawson of the WHS English Club read an essay about Veteran’s Day.

“God Bless America” was performed by third, fourth and fifth graders from Warsaw North and South Elementary Schools.

The WHS Madrigal Singers and Women’s Choir performed “Seeds Grow to Plants” as well as the popular “Salute to the Armed Forces”.

On Sunday, November 11, the American Legion hosted the annual “Wreathing of the Waters” on the Lake of the Ozarks near Drake Harbor.  The American Legion Honor Guard presented the colors and performed the gun salute.

Despite the cold weather, several people were on hand to honor the veterans at this event which the American Legion has hosted for almost 30 years. 

Missouri Representative Warren Love was on hand to express his appreciation to the Veterans as well.

After the ceremony, veterans and their families enjoyed a soup and chili lunch hosted by the American Legion.

Of the many veterans on hand at the American Legion, Gregory Hatchers had spent a combination of 29 years in the armed forces with 17 years in the Air Force and 12 in the U. S. Army.  Hatchers was stationed in German from 1971 to 1977 and Honduras in 1985.

Another veteran enjoy soup at the American Legion Hall was Bill Roberts who had served 24 years, six years as a U. S . Marine and 18 in the U. S. Army.  Roberts was the youngest Marine in the Corp in 1958, 17 years old.

“I forged my birth certificate and my dad’s signature to try to join when I was 14 but they sent me home,” Roberts said.  “Serving in the military was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Hurricane Harvey Duy was also enjoying the day with his fellow vets.  Duy said he was 87 but didn’t feel a day older than 82. Duy served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. 

“I was undecided about college so I joined the Navy for the experience,” said Duy.  “I served on the USS Eldorado which was a communication ship.”

Duy explained that his ship was located near Korea so the men who were fighting could come there for R&R.  Duy volunteer to be a fox hole sailer while the fighting men rotated back and forth for R & R.

Duy worked in the pay office while he was serving and later went to college to major in finance.

All of us at the Enterprise wish to let all veterans know that we greatly appreciate their service to our country.