WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Upper Valley Students Honor Veterans

Upper Valley Students Honor Veterans

Lebanon, New Hampshire - November 10, 2009

Members of the Lebanon High School band played to a packed audience in the school's gymnasium Tuesday afternoon. The guests of honor-- serviceman and women from past wars.

"We felt that a moment of silence for our veterans wasn't enough and that we needed to do a lot more for them as a school and as a community," said Cory Valentine, who organized the event.

A tribute created by a 15-year-old student, as well as testimonials from veterans of several different conflicts, captivated those on hand, which included U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Michael Hillmann.

"To come up here for Veterans Day is obviously a treat in itself, but to do it on the Marine Corps birthday adds a little extra to it," Hillmann said.

November 10 marks the 234th birthday of the Marine Corps. But Hillmann says the day is not about any one individual soldier or branch.

"I think it is always important to hear first-hand experience, because you can read things and you can watch videos but to really get a chance to talk to someone who has been there certainly makes a better impact," Hillmann said.

"Unless we have a family member who tells us the stories we don't understand it in the least sense at all," Valentine said.

Unlike past generations, war is not something most of these kids know firsthand. But they say listening helps them learn.

"The stories that our guest speaker shared with us and the tone that our audience walked away with is something that hopefully adds to that knowledge," Valentine said.

This is the first year that the school has held this type of veterans celebration however students say they hope it becomes an annual event to honor those who have served.

Adam Sullivan - WCAX News