HYRUM – Ninety-four year-old Carl Anderson, with a half a dozen other veterans, smiled as Hyrum’s Lincoln Elementary School students presented their Veterans Program to honor their service.
The St. Charles, Idaho native joined the U.S. Navy after high school to serve during WWII. Anderson has been a member of American Legion Post 47 since moving to Hyrum in the late 1950’s. He was a Morse Code operator on an ocean-going tug.
He came home, met Dorothy Lemon at Hyrum’s Elite Hall, they married and he spent the rest of his life in Hyrum.
“Mrs. Kelli Babbitt, a teacher, planned the program. Janice Barlow, the music specialist for the school, helped with the practices before and during school,” said Lincoln Principal Jenifer Buist. “They have been working on the program since mid-September.”
The collaboration between the teachers, Babbitt and the 475 students was key to the success of the program.
“I thought it was amazing! The kids did a great job,” Buist said. “It’s important to for the students to know what the veterans have done for our country.”
The program began with a Color Guard presenting the colors and the audience and students singing the Star Spangled Banner. After the patriotic songs, students spoke about the importance of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
She said it was a great day and a great program celebrating our veterans for their service. They were appreciative of their efforts.
“The veterans were very complementary they came up and thanked us for the performance,” she said. “They also thanked us for the invitation.”
Other elementary and middle school students from across Cache Valley performed similar patriotic programs to honor veterans and the country.