The 44th annual Veterans Day Program in the East Penn School District continued at Lower Macungie Middle School recently and was patriotic from beginning to end.

The seventh and eighth grade band opened the event with marches from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The music, selected by Band Director Anthony Simons, set a patriotic mood as Principal Suzanne Vincent presided over the event as the master of ceremonies.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the Cadence Choir, directed by Kelly McConahy, sang the national anthem. Eighth grade students Julia Bezems, Hailey Child and Harli-Lynn Frantz also presented their original patriotic writings.

Veteran speaker Sergeant Major John P. Neith, retired USMC after 23 years and 4 months of military service, spoke about his military career. He also told two stories of young men, around the age of some students at LMMS, who not only served in the military but were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.

At age 14, Jacklyn H. Lucas enlisted in the Marines without his mother's consent. He was awarded the highest military honor by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 for saving the lives of other soldiers by falling on two hand grenades while serving in the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Fortunately one grenade was a dud and Lucas lived. After receiving his medal, Lucas's commanders spoke to him harshly for lying about his age when enlisting.

Back in 1861, at age 11, Willie Johnston begged to enter the Union Army when his father did and was accepted as the only drummer in Company D. At the battle of Lee's Mill in Virginia, while retreating, Johnston did not lose his drum. Neith said this was extremely important because the troops communicated through their drums.

When President Abraham Lincoln heard about Johnston's bravery he recommended he be honored and Johnston, at 13, was the youngest person to receive the Medal of Honor.

"Freedom isn't free is not completely correct," Neith said.

He told students how veterans gave us our freedoms and have allowed generations of Americans to be born free. He said our founding fathers were the first veterans and said Americans became free when they signed the Declaration of Independence which stated, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Neith cautioned the students to not take their freedom or liberty for granted as they are special and it is for the good of all men and women.

In her closing statement, Vincent noted veterans who are staff members at LMMS. Ken Glenville, art teacher, Army; Michael Nytz, guidance, Army and Janine Miller, administrative assistant, Navy.

The program ended with a multimedia tribute to veterans followed by taps played by Matthew Elcock with the echo played by Emma Mohr, both eighth graders.