For over a decade, the Indian Lake High School Key Club, with help from the Family Career and Community Leaders of America, has hosted a veteran’s lunch and celebration at the school.
This year’s took place at noon Thursday, Nov. 10. About 100 students handed out gift bags and served the almost 50 guests sandwiches and mac and cheese, then offered up a little nostalgia with no-bake cookies and upside-down pineapple cake.
“We try to trigger memories,” Jenny Ignarski, event organizer and Key Club advisor, said. But, she added, that’s not their only goal. “We want to use this as a teaching experience.”
According to Ignarski, many students don’t know what a veteran is, where they came from or what they did. So, following lunch, the guests and student body were invited to a celebration in the auditorium.
In addition to honoring the men and women who fought for the country, the program included music from the band, information about the history of Taps, the significance to how the flag is folded and what each branch of the military does.
ILHS Journalism students shared a video of interviews with several local veterans and staff members shared “selfies” with veterans throughout the program.
Led by teacher Ed Rogers, government students helped decorate the stage with genuine Army Jeeps belonging to Indian Lake School Board member Steve Spath. In addition, members of the AMVETS Post 39 posted and retired the colors on stage.
After the ceremony, students had an opportunity to interact with the veterans.
The gift bags that the service member honorees took home included pens, keychains handmade by an ILHS teacher, a small flag and Hershey bars.