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Valley honors it veterans

Pupils at Buckeye West Elementary honor the area’s veterans Monday with a series of patriotic songs for an audience of parents, families, and members of the Adena American Legion. Music teacher Jack Skidmore conducts.
The Bellaire Sons of Italy hold a spaghetti dinner Monday in honor of Veterans Day. According to staff, about 300 people including veterans and their immediate families dined and enjoyed fellowship and a friendly atmosphere.

ADENA — The pupils at Buckeye West Elementary celebrated Veterans Day with a series of patriotic songs focusing on the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, early United States history, and the branches of the military.

Kindergarten through sixth grade classes and the Sixth Grade Band took their turns performing for parents and family in the audience, as well as veterans from the Adena post 525 of the American Legion.

Jack Skidmore, general music teacher, conducted the songs. He commended the pupils for their hard work. Principal John Rocchi said along with practicing for the presentation, the pupils’ classes have also focused more on United States and military history.

“I think it’s so important for our students to understand the history of our country and the service our men and women have given. I thought it was very important they understand that,” Rocchi said. “It seems like around this whole area and the Ohio Valley it seems like we have a lot of veterans. It’s nice to see them come and participate in the program.”

“We try to tie it all together,” Skidmore said, adding that many pupils have veterans in the family. “It’s a great atmosphere in Adena.”

“Those kids were fantastic,” Gary DeNoble, Air Force veteran, said. “I was teary-eyed when they sang the National Anthem. They were excellent. The teachers at this school should be given a hand. We’ve been doing these programs for years, for Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and this is one of the best schools. .. in terms of veterans programs. They present the program to us, which is wonderful. It’s really appreciated.”

DeNoble said they would return for an afterschool program later in the afternoon.

“We’re going to have dinner with the kids and we’re going to leave it open to discussion. They’re going to be asking us questions,” he said. “(They ask) some tough questions. Those kids are good.”

Tom Sickle, an Army veteran, had a grandson, Evan Krupinski in fourth grade, among the performers.

“I’m proud of him. He learned all the songs that he was taught there, and I could see him up on stage singing. It really helps. It makes you feel good when you’ve got somebody young that respects a veteran,” he said.

Many other area schools also held Veterans Day presentations. Martins Ferry City School District and St. Clairsville-Richland City Schools both had noteworthy morning events, according to their respective superintendents.

Martins Ferry Superintendent Jim Fogle said guest speakers at the high school event included Terry Wildman, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars post 626 and Scott Boehm, senior intelligence advisor for overseas contingency operations, and Department of Defense inspector general, both with roots in Martins Ferry.

“It was very well-attended, both of them were, the one at the elementary and the one at the high school. Our staff and students did a fantastic job putting on the programs as a tribute to our veterans for their sacrifices and their service,” Fogle said.

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