Cascade High School students honor veterans with annual assembly

LEAVENWORTH — Cascade High School students gathered on Nov. 10 to honor local veterans through music, poetry, and reflection during the school’s annual Veterans Day assembly.

In a packed auditorium, CHS students led the audience through the history of Veterans Day and the traditions that mark the occasion. The assembly opened with the National Anthem performed by the CHS Band and American Sign Language Class, followed by the choir’s performance of “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, as well as a reading of the poem “Fiddler’s Green” by members of Speech and Debate.

Veterans in attendance were invited to stand and were honored with poppies, an emblem of remembrance. The assembly also recognized CHS staff and recent graduates who have served, or are serving, as well as current students who plan to join the military after graduation.

The band performed the “Armed Forces Medley,” inviting students and guests to stand when their, or their loved ones’, branch’s anthem played. They later played “Elegy for the U.S.S. Arizona” by Larry MacTaggart as the audience observed a moment of silence for those lost during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.

As a guest speaker, Cascade School Board member and retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Worden shared reflections, stories and advice from his career during a Q&A discussion involving student representatives from all four grades.

“I spent most of my life in foreign countries, and you kiss the soil when you come back after some of the experiences of places you've seen around this world where most people, by far, do not enjoy the freedoms we enjoy in this country. And you can see the toll that that takes on humanity around the world,” said Worden.

Worden is a 1976 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and served four assignments in Europe, four in the Pacific, and served in combat and hostilities: Operations Desert Storm and Provide Comfort

During the discussion, he fielded questions about training, daily responsibilities, and combat. He also encouraged students to see service as a broad calling that extends beyond military duty.

“You don't have to join the military to serve your country. You can serve it by studying history so your generation doesn't make the same mistakes previous generations have. And serve your community, [through] community service, and learn to live a life of service. That's what makes this country great,” said Worden.

He also urged students to be intentional about studying history and civics, even beyond their academic requirements.

“You should know how this government works…We are one generation away, as one president said, from losing our freedoms, so we can't slip up and lose what we have, or forget what we have in terms of freedoms. My word as a veteran to you, all of you, is study history,” said Worden.

The CHS football team closed the assembly with a Flag Folding Ceremony, where they explained the meaning behind each of the 13 folds. After, CHS cheerleaders led students in writing letters of gratitude for service members. The letters will be included in care packages put together by Operation Gratitude and sent to service members and veterans.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media