FORT LORAMIE — The Old School History Club of Fort Loramie High School hosted their annual Veterans Day Program on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Veterans and their guests were invited to the high school for a hot breakfast that was provided by the National Honor Society. After breakfast a district-wide assembly took place in the high school gymnasium as students from kindergarten through twelfth grade were in attendance.
The assembly began with all 78 area veterans in attendance processing into the gymnasium in a single file line. Tony Seger, a veteran from Operation Enduring Freedom was the youngest veteran in attendance and led the impressive group into the gymnasium to a standing ovation. Frederick “Fritz” Ernst, a Navy veteran from World War II was the final veteran in and was the oldest of the veterans at the age of 90. All of the veterans in attendance were individually recognized as roll was called.
The assembly was highlighted by a special variety show that was put on by the Old School History Club and its advisor Brad Turner. The show was in the fashion of the Bob Hope USO Specials of the past with Brad Turner performing master of ceremonies in the likeness of Bob Hope. The marching band performed a patriotic medley, seniors Maria Barhorst and Hillary Benanzer did the classical comedy routine of Abbot and Costello’s Who’s on First, there was a presentation of several Fort Loramie High School Athletes and the show closed with a performance by Kevin and the Ohters, a rock band made up of Fort Loramie students. The assembly also included a slide show movie comprised art work completed by elementary students and elementary art teacher Krista Gehret. The elementary students collectively sang for the veterans and the entire assembly acknowledged the service of veterans who are no longer with us with the playing of Taps.
Of this year’s show, advisor Brad Turner said, “We broke with tradition from years past with doing this type of variety show. But we wanted to highlight the incredible talents and gifts that our student body has and entertain our guests. The fact is that our students would not be able to develop the abilities and talents they have if it were not for the efforts of veterans to help in fighting for and preserving our way of life here in the United States. This show served as a very special Thank You to the men and women in attendance.”
