Honoring Service: Veterans Day at Cascade High School

Stella Peterson (9) writes a thank-you letter to a veteran through “Operation Gratitude.” The letters will be sent in care packages veterans and service members. Photo credit: Jacob Harris 

On November 11th, 1918, at the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month, the Armistice of Germany went into effect, bringing an end to World War I. Initially commemorated as Armistice Day to honor those who lost their lives in the war, the holiday evolved in the United States and, in 1954, was renamed Veterans Day to honor all who have served in the military. 

At Cascade High School, this day is marked through the annual Veterans Day Assembly, a tradition that celebrates and recognizes the service of veterans in the community. The assembly featured traditional military songs and poems, a video honoring CHS graduates who have served, a question-and-answer session with a veteran speaker, and the ceremonial pinning of poppies on local veterans. 

For the second consecutive year, CHS Leadership students organized the Veterans Day assembly, led by event manager Parker Hollatz (12). “We invited veteran guests and reached out to the community to get as many people recognized as possible. We brought in a guest speaker, Major General Mike Worden, to provide insight into what being a veteran is like,” said Hollatz.  

In preparation for the assembly, Hollatz also had each flex class review behavior expectations and develop questions to ask the veterans, with one student representative posing a question on behalf of their peers. Major General Worden, an Air Force Academy graduate and former vice commander in the Air Force, fielded these questions. When Elias Fortney (12) asked, “What is one thing you think all Americans should know?” Worden replied, “Know your history. Avoid making the same mistakes as past generations for our sake and yours. If there is one thing to learn in school, it’s history.”

Worden replied, “Know your history. Avoid making the same mistakes as past generations for our sake and yours. If there is one thing to learn in school, it’s history.”

 The discussion offered students a deeper understanding of veterans’ experiences and the lessons their service can teach. 

Following the assembly, students continued their engagement by participating in Operation Gratitude, a letter-writing campaign coordinated by the cheerleading team in partnership with Interact Club. Students had the opportunity to actively thank veterans by writing notes or creating drawings for care packages, expressing their appreciation for the sacrifices made by service members and putting the lessons from the assembly into action. 

Kate Smith (11), whose grandfather Robert Smith served in the Air Force and was recognized at the assembly, reflected on the event: “I like how we celebrated Veterans Day here by incorporating many parts of the school into the community. It made me feel like, for a day, every person in our town was connected.” 

“I like how we celebrated Veterans Day here by incorporating many parts of the school into the community. It made me feel like, for a day, every person in our town was connected.”