Bru shares impression of Vietnam War

VFW member Daniel Bru shares Vietnam War experiences via audio recording during the Veterans Day assembly for students. (Bryan Stanford photo)

by Andrea Farrington

We celebrate Veterans Day on November 11 to honor our veterans who fight for us every day. 

Guest speaker this year was 1968 Montezuma alumnus, Daniel Bru, a Vietnam War veteran. He talked about what it was like to be in war at that time, and then played a voice recording about it. 

The recording was very in-depth, because we could hear bombs exploding in the background showing that he was in danger while recording. It also showed how things have changed over time. Today, veterans have the advantage of using webcam and telephone to talk to loved ones unlike in 1968 when they were lucky to write letters back and forth. 

Every year the school takes part in a Veterans Day assembly at 11 a.m. in the high school gym. 

To begin the assembly the National Guard presented the colors, and the band played the “National Anthem.” Mariah Hirsch then gave the historical background to Songs of the American Civil War that reflect patriotism including “Taps,” “When Johnny Comes Marching Home,” “Dixie” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Then, the junior high and senior high bands performed those selections.

Following the performance was the announcing of the Patriots Pen essay winners. The 3^rd grade topic was “I love America because.” Winners were Madelyn DeJong and Caymen DeJong. Fourth graders wrote about “Why I am Grateful to Veterans.” Winners were Jared Theis and Kylee Taylor. 

“The Visions for Our Country’s Future” was the topic for 5^th graders; the winners were Shelby Helm and Vance Bushong. “Does Patriotism Still Matter?” was the theme for 6^th, 7^th and 8^th graders. Sixth grade winner was Ashley Vinton; the 7^th grade winner was Katelyn Long and the  8^th grade winner was Joseph Peck. Those individuals advance to Districts. 

The choir sang “I Have a Dream” by Mary Donnelly. To start out the song, Calli Zimmerman sang a solo. To end the assembly Norman Martin and Coleton Tompkins played the “Taps.”

The holiday was first incorporated by President Wilson as Armistice Day in 1919. Armistice Day was enacted as an official American holiday in 1938. In 1954, Congress changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day.