United South Middle School Honors 27 United States Veterans
Written by admin, Nov 10, 2016, Comments Off
Courtesy Carmen Rendon,
(Laredo, Texas)-The United South Middle School (U.S.M.S.), Social Studies department, honored veterans with a celebration at the their campus. The morning began with at welcoming at their school library, and was followed by a special program in the gymnasium.
The program included patriotic music performed by the U.S.M.S. Leopard Band. The United South High School ROTC was also on hand for the presentation of colors. Ms. Blanca Polanco, an 8th grade teacher at U.S.M.S., served as emcee, and Principal Martha Alvarez provided additional remarks to celebrate veterans and their families.
The special guest speaker for the proceedings was 92 year old, Mr. John Valls, PFC, of the U.S. Army, who spoke about his trajectory of being drafted for World War II when he was a Junior in High School. Mr. Valls formed part of the European Theater of Operations, was in the 9th Armored Division, a 3rd US Army Rifleman, and served under General George Patton from 1944 to 1946. Additionally, Mr. Valls spoke about war being a sensitive and scary situation, urging students to go out and vote for peace rather than war. At the ceremony all Veterans were honored with a small token of appreciation. U.S.M.S also payed tribute to Veterans who are not present today by remembering them with a dedication known as the “Missing Man Table.”
