Valley Middle School hosts Veterans Day celebration

Carter DeJong / Grand Forks Herald By Carter DeJong Today at 2:42 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? GRAND FORKS — Valley Middle School welcomed more than 30 local veterans and their families on Tuesday for an event that was attended by the entire student body. The celebration opened with remarks from six students, each of whom shared a few words about the meaning of Veterans Day. ADVERTISEMENT “Today we honor and salute all of the American veterans who, throughout history, have unselfishly placed their lives on the line for freedom,” said VMS student Kylo Habrielson. “American veterans represent all races and ethnic groups,” said Samhita Nooti, another student. “They are men and they are women. They are every creed, every belief. They are our next door neighbors. There are 16.5 million Americans living today who have proudly joined their country’s military, and there are more than 1 million who have died defending the United States." Held triennially so that every student gets to experience it once during middle school, the celebration featured patriotic performances from Valley's choir, orchestra and band. “This is important for our veterans,” said Erin Cummings, orchestra teacher and lead event organizer. “We want to honor them and their service, and the time that they gave to our country. We don’t want them to be forgotten. It’s especially important for our students. Many of them have a veteran in their family, but maybe some of them don’t and they need to know the importance of the people that make our country what it is.” Retired Lt. Col. Dennis Elbert, a U.S. Army veteran and University of North Dakota professor emeritus, gave the event’s keynote speech. He brought two pairs of boots on stage with him — those of his father, who served in North Africa and the allied invasion of Italy during WWII; and his own pair that he wore while serving in Vietnam and Cambodia. “My son retired this summer from the Army, and his boots are desert boots,” he told the students. “You had different types of boots depending on the years that you served. Veterans are regular people — moms, dads, grandfathers, grandmothers, aunts, uncles and neighbors. It’s not about war and fighting. If you talk to most veterans, they’re probably going to indicate that they are people who appreciate and want peace.” The event also included a presentation of the MIA Table, which is a ceremonial set piece made up of several items meant to honor service members whose fates have never been confirmed. ADVERTISEMENT “The cloth on the table is white, and that is to symbolize the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve their country,” said Sgt. Robert Tibbets, who spent five years in the National Guard and teaches sixth grade at Valley. “The yellow ribbon symbolizes our continued uncertainty and hope for their return.” Other items on the table include a slice of lemon to represent the “bitter fate” of their loss; a sprinkle of salt for countless tears from family members; and a candle to light their way home. Carter DeJong/ Grand Forks Herald Carter DeJong/ Grand Forks Herald Carter DeJong / Grand Forks Herald Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags GRAND FORKS GRAND FORKS PUBLIC SCHOOLS By Carter DeJong Carter DeJong is the K-12 education reporter for the Grand Forks Herald. He previously spent two years covering education at the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner in Alaska and one year with The Edwardsville Intelligencer in Illinois. He graduated from Indiana University in 2023 with a B.A. in journalism. He can be contacted at 574-298-1774 or [email protected]. Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Local Man arrested in Grand Forks for federal illegal reentry 11m ago · By Maia Labbe Local East Grand Forks Police Department looking at new vehicle purchase 3h ago · By Jordan Rusche Local Honoring Grand Forks native who helped raise first flag at Iwo Jima 8h ago · By Pamela Knudson ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads College UND basketball notebook: Tyler Wagner injury update, National Signing Day 29m ago · By Alex Faber North Dakota North Dakota receives $206M in rural health funds 1h ago · By Staff reports North Dakota US Border Patrol, regional agencies train together 1h ago · By Staff reports College MonDak Football Show: Week 11 6h ago · By Staff reports