Killbuck carries on proud tradition with veterans events
Members of the 555 Honors Detachment from Wooster provided a flag-folding ceremony during the Nov. 13 Veterans Day ceremony in Killbuck.
Many schools go all out to celebrate holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween.
For the staff and student body at Killbuck Elementary, Veterans Day ranks right up there with the biggest holidays in terms of honoring and celebrating with the area’s veterans who have served their country and dedicated themselves to the pursuit of freedom.
On Monday, Nov. 13, Killbuck Elementary rolled out the red carpet, providing a free breakfast for any veteran and his/her spouse, followed by a service in the cemetery next to the school that was rife with flag-waving students, a time of honoring veterans both living and deceased, and creating an aura that showed the veterans how much their service means to the community.
According to Brian Lash, principal at Killbuck Elementary, the push to create something special on this day isn’t just a school thing, but also a community thing.
“There is a very rich history here in Killbuck with our veterans and people serving their country,” Lash said. “We have a lot of activities in class that revolve around the community and the veterans. Our fifth-graders come out through the cemetery and see all of these veterans buried here and all of the wars they fought in, all in the name of freedom. That’s what it means to us, and we know we are lucky to have those freedoms and live in a community that cares.”
Lash said the support of Killbuck VFW Post 7079, Women’s Auxiliary VFW, Women’s Auxiliary Millersburg Legion, Killbuck Elementary PTO, Amish Country Barns Rodhe’s IGA, Killbuck Church of Christ, Killbuck Thrift Shop, McDonald’s and Kenny Logston showed just how important this event is to the community.
“It’s great teaming up with all of them to show our veterans how important they are to us,” Lash said.
The event included a full-fledged breakfast that included place mats colored by the Killbuck students and laminated; a trek into the brisk November air to the flagpole in the cemetery, where the 555 Honors Detachment from Wooster provided a flag-folding ceremony; a group of students who did a reader’s theater; a chance for Killbuck students with parents, grandparents or relatives who served their country to thank them for their service; third-graders leading the student body in singing “Grand Ole Flag;” and veteran Brant Kanuckel presenting a speech about service and freedom.
“This event is something we look forward to every year,” Lash said. “I think my staff starts preparing for this event the day after it’s over for the coming year. We take notes on what went well and what didn’t, and it’s a big deal for this school and this community to honor our veterans.”
Taylor Enama, Killbuck intervention specialist, opened the ceremony by welcoming everyone, especially all the veterans. “We honor you and remember your great deeds, and we also salute those who are currently fighting for our freedom.”
Kanuckel called it a privilege to speak on behalf of all who have served their country faithfully and said his words bear repeating as he talked about how time in armed services changes everyone single person’s life.
“You’re living a life that is not entirely your own, for something greater than yourself,” Kanuckel said. “That is worthy of mentioning, and that is what Veterans Day is all about. Although most service members don’t know what their decision will bring when they choose to serve, there is a sense of which all who do so must lay down their lives for the sake of others.”
With students waving miniature flags throughout the service, the student body was a sea of red, white and blue that showed today’s youth attending Killbuck Elementary are continuing the tradition of honoring the area’s veterans.