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Camping, picnics and family trips are usual over Memorial Day weekend. However JROTC cadets decided to share the true meaning of Memorial Day with the student body at an assembly May 22.
Sophomore Tammi Postlethwaite was the MC of the presentation and guests included veterans from the Flathead Valley and author Fred Salter. U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns was unable to attend and sent his staff member Stephanie Ryan in his place.
“I’m really glad I did it,” said Postlewaite. “You kind of forget what Memorial Day is about and doing something like that kind of reminds you.”
According to JROTC adviser Mike Hittle, the assembly’s purpose was to ensure that the students knew what Memorial Day was all about, as well as reinforcing patriotism among the students. The assembly’s purpose was surely not lost in the reading of Salter’s poem “The Angel’s Weep,” nor in the reading of all those who died in battle.
“I thought it was good,” said junior Brandon Smith. “It made us realize how many people from the valley contributed their lives to the freedom of our country.”
Hittle hopes to continue the Memorial Day assembly in the years to come at Flathead and also to enhance the presentation.
“We have a video that we wanted to show this year from Washington, D. C., but we got it after the assembly,” said Hittle. “Also hopefully we can get other groups involved other than the ROTC.”
Veteran Virgil Ray was one of the four veterans who attended the assembly. Ray is currently an officer of the post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall.
“It was great and well organized,” said Ray. “I look forward to seeing more veteran participation.”
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