SAD 4 Veterans Day celebration Nov. 8
GUILFORD — The students and staff of SAD 4 are inviting area veterans and the general public to attend the annual Veterans Day celebration at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8.
“We’ve certainly created a tradition,” noted John Keane, PCHS principal. “We’ve been hosting these celebrations for over a decade. But it’s a tradition that seems to have more meaning every year and it’s anything but a habit — every year we create some differences.”
Students from the TCTC Criminal Justice Program will open the program by formally posting the colors under the command of Col. Steven Spaulding. The Marine Corps League, Bangor Detachment 1151 will lead the flag folding ceremony and close the program by retiring the colors. The celebration includes traditional patriotic music, student presentations, and selected readings that will feature students and staff from grades 2-12. The Armed Forces Medley Salute performed by the PCHS Band typically brings the entire audience to its feet as the school and community honors all veterans and those who serve in each branch of the service. This year the PCHS Band will be joined by the H.J Crosby Community Band for the Armed Forces Medley reflecting the community nature of the program.
This year’s program includes “A Family of Veterans” featuring Ken Brown who serves in the Maine Army National Guard and his father Philip Brown who served as an Air Force major in Labrador, Japan and Korea as well as the United States. They will share their experiences as a military family together with some of the challenges they have faced.
The always popular tribute will be held in the gymnasium on Campus Drive in order to accommodate the anticipated crowd. A local resident who has attended for several years commented, “This is one school program you don’t want to miss. There is some obvious sadness over the sacrifices that have been and are being made by our military. But that sadness is balanced with a deep sense of pride and appreciation. Experiencing that with children of all ages, veterans, friends and neighbors means moist eyes and going home with a deep sense of community unity.”
Veterans and friends, parents and the entire community are encouraged to attend. Coffee and refreshments for veterans, visitors and guests will be served in the cafeteria from 8:15 until 8:45 a.m. For those unable to attend, the program will be live-streamed through the district’s Facebook page. Long-distance guests are encouraged to visit the page 15 minutes prior to the event to establish a connection.