Medomak Middle School honored the nation’s veterans in a brief ceremony at the Waldoboro school Nov. 8. More than 30 veterans from all branches of military service attended the annual service.
The auditorium, the entry to the school and the students were festooned with red, white, and blue to show their support and appreciation for the military service of their guests. Families and friends from the area packed the auditorium, along with the entire population of the school.
Veterans opened the ceremonies with a traditional Posting of the Colors, and were welcomed by Principal Ben Vail. The MMS band, under the direction of Julie Sanborn, performed the Cambridge Overture.
Scouts from Girl Scout Troop 599, Claire Lupien, Hannah Thibeault and Chelsey Luce, led the the Pledge Of Allegiance. The scouts presented every veteran in the room with a broght red carnation, each with a hand written card saying, “Thank You.”
Ariel Haskins sang the national anthem. The student reached the high difficult notes with ease and finished to resounding applause.
Student Leah Kim read an excerpt from “Setting the Place,” a letter written by John Downing, a 1995 graduate of Revere High School, who served in Baghdad. In the letter, Downing tells about a dinner to which he was invited. There was a place there, set at the table for a guest who never arrived. He learned that the empty place, set with food that went uneaten, was set for a fallen military person.
Remembering a friend he had lost in his first tour of duty, he wrote home and asked: “Place a setting of food at your dinner table. Remember a lost soldier. He won’t come to eat with you, but set it out for him anyway. Those that share the table with you that evening will never forget their meal with the soldier who never came to dinner.”
Winning Patriot Pen essayists read their efforts, composed to answer the question: “Are you proud of your country?”
Jerin Brooks wrote about the Pledge of Allegiance. “With liberty and justice for all I shall stand beside my country in defense,” Brooks said.
Some essays were read by students other than the authors. Alexia Hilt read for Jayme Stone: “I’m very proud to say my grandfather, great-grandfather and uncles and cousins served to protect our freedom,” Hilt read.
Isaiah Harriman read for Cale Gee: “you have to have a lot of respect for the people who didn’t make it home to their own families.”
Courtney Shallow’s essay, read by Antyna Gould said: “I love living in a country where I can speak my own thoughts.”
Veterans and special guests Paul Berube, Sherrie Vail, Alfred Starr, Donna Wallace, Gary Lawreyson and Douglass C. Wallace were seated on the stage. The honorees had written short biographic pieces that were read by students.
Student Nick Depatsy spoke on behalf of veteran Paul Berube,who served in the Air Force. Owen Gilbert shared that Lawreyson had been in the Marine Corps for 27 years and later, in the Army.
Students spoke on behalf of their own relatives, Jackson Vail honoring his mother Sherrie Vail, then giving her a big hug on the stage. Student Zach Starr spoke proudly about his grandfather Alfred Starr.
Cortland Fischer read from Wallace’s biography. Wallace is a veteran of World War II who enlisted in the Navy in 1943. Wallace was aboard Naval ship LST 750, one of 80 ships in a convoy when the convoy was attacked by Japanese kamikaze aircraft, “and my ship was torpedoed and sunk,” Fischer read. “It was for injuries sustained in this attack that I received the Purple Heart.”
There were many patriotic readings during the hour-long ceremony, but the playing of “Taps” provided the emotional highlight when, following military tradition the collected World War II , Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraqi War Veterans, rose as one and bowed their heads.
On the stage, Trevor Thompson played to the silent crowd. Before the applause could begin, a haunting and perfectly executed echo rendition followed, played by Ian Goode, from somewhere invisible to the audience, up above and behind them.
Lorraine Knight led the ceremonial folding of the flag. As each segment was folded the meaning of each fold was read from the stage. With the flag properly folded, student Taylor Guptill presented it to Wallace, who was visibly surprised and honored.
Each student who spoke on behalf of a veteran ended in the same way: “We thank you for serving our country, preserving our freedom and being willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. We honor you today with a hearty round of applause.”
Master of Ceremonies, Nancy Durgin echoed the sentiment: “We gather here to offer our love, our thanks and our profound respect to the unbroken line of men and women who have served and continue to serve our country.”
