Features

Veterans honored at holiday ceremony

The Emerald Guard Drill Team performs during the Veteran's Day Recognition event Nov. 8.

 

Monroe radio personality Jeff Tuttle was asleep at his home in Nashville on Sept. 11, 2001.
Shortly after 8:46 a.m., he was jolted awake by a phone call. It was his friend from Toronto.
“My buddy says ‘Tuttle, turn on CNN. The world just changed,’” Tuttle recalled. “As we all know, the world changed in that moment.”
Tuttle went on to perform the original song ‘Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?’ with lyrics explaining “we share the same sun, we share the same moon,” at the Nov. 8 Veterans Day Recognition event in the Meyer Theater.
The evening, which began with the Civil Air Patrol, Young Marines, and Navy Sea Cadets presenting the colors, was a diverse display of patriotism and appreciation.
Am-Vets state Commander Charles Petch, the evening’s keynote speaker, talked about how happy it made him to see so many young people in attendance.
“It’s a pleasure to see all these young guys and gals out here in their uniforms, and taking part in this Veterans Day memorial,” Petch said. “I don’t see this a lot, and I’m sorry to say that we really have to get a hold of ourselves and try to guide our children into understanding what the Veterans Day ceremony is all about.
“We just don’t do that enough.”
The highlight of the evening was a performance by the Emerald Guard drill team from Springfield High School in Holland, Ohio.
Under the command of Sgt. Ricky Thomas and ranked second in the nation, the guard performed a nine-minute routine full of synchronized rifle tosses and precise movements.
“The purpose of the drill team is to motivate young people to be better citizens,” 15-year-old Taylor Eley said.
Airport High School’s orchestra, led by William Thompson, along with Tuttle, John Geer and The Crusaders, as well as the Sweet Adeline’s, all provided music.