On November 11, 2024 Lowellville High School’s Student Council presented their annual Veterans’ Day Assembly. The assembly was opened to the public and local veterans were invited to attend. Senior Bobby Loftus welcomed everyone, followed by the American Legion members who completed The Presentation of Colors. The Presentation of Colors is a military tradition dating back to the beginning of our country. Elizabeth Rossi spoke about the history and origin of Veterans’ Day and introduced the veterans in attendance. Seven of Mrs. Havrilla’s sixth grade students had the opportunity to read letters they wrote in appreciation of veterans and what Veterans’ Day means to them. The sixth grade students who read their letters were Skylar Higgins, Ashtyn Mascarella, Reilly Mentzer, Aaliyah Round, Roland Swanson, Ethan Wirtz, and Abel Zimmerman. Reeve Donatelli had the honor of presenting Lowellville’s fifth and sixth grade math teacher, Mrs. Sanders as the guest speaker.
In her speech, Mrs. Sanders shared that she enlisted in the Army National Guard in March 2001 to pay off her student loans. During this time of her life Mrs. Sanders said she struggled a lot with finding her purpose in life. While teaching in Pennsylvania she received a call to report for active duty in Iraq. While serving in Iraq she had the opportunity to teach in local villages and work with the University of Baghdad and the Iraqi Ministry of Education teaching students. She said, “I knew immediately that this was my purpose.”
Teaching while being enlisted in the Army National Guard is what gave her this sense of purpose. She shared she felt complete with teaching students. This is the moment she realized teaching is her passion and what she enjoys most. In our school her passion and love for teaching is what makes her the inspiration she is.
Mrs. Sanders ended her speech by sharing her gratitude for the other veterans in attendance and thanking Mrs. DeLuca, Mrs. Kerpsack, and the Student Council for asking her to speak at the event.
Following her speech, Mrs. Sanders’ former student, Kenna Beeson presented her with a commemorative plaque thanking her for her service and speaking. When asked how this moment made her feel Kenna shared, “being able to give her this gift I definitely felt honored, this moment was very sentimental because I had her as a teacher and that moment was very special.”
Student Council members passed out pins to the veterans in attendance and Everett M. Oliver presented the closing remarks.
Following the assembly light refreshments were served in the library for the veterans. During this time I had the opportunity to speak to some of Lowellville’s veterans, including Robert Agee and David Cole.
Robert Agee, father of junior Reese Agee, shared he grew up in a military family and knew he wanted to enlist. Robert was in the Army and enlisted at the age of 18. When asked if there was a specific reason for his enlistment in the army he shared he just did not want to be on a ship. Robert served for 10 years.
David Cole shared he was motivated to join the Air Force by the Vietnam War. He joined right after his high school graduation at the age of 18. David said he enlisted in the Air Force for “better job opportunities”. He served 4 years active duty and 8 years reserves.
Thank you to all of the veterans who attended our assembly and a very special thank you to Mrs. Sanders for her very moving speech. Her heartfelt speech touched and inspired our staff and students and we were thankful to her for sharing her story with us on such an important day.
