Mike Wolanin | The Republic Members of the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard wear poppies during the annual POW/MIA ceremony at the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans in Columbus, Ind., Friday, Sept. 16, 2022.
HOPE – Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School students will salute the community’s veterans in a special event on Veterans Day.
Members of Hope American Legion Post 229 are invited to post and retire the colors for the student presentation overseen by Hauser social studies teacher and former basketball coach Bob Nobbe, according to post adjutant A.C. Reeves, who also serves as commander of the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor Guard.
Highlights in the school’s gymnasium will be observances written by Hauser teens on what Veterans Day means, Reeves said. There will also be patriotic music, as well as a video featuring Hauser graduates who joined the military.
“I think it features all of us in uniform at some point in our lives when we looked much younger,” Reeves said with a laugh.
The tradition of a student-led program at Hauser is appreciated by American Legion members on many levels, but Reeves says one of the top reasons is that the students are respectful and paying attention.
“Whenever you get a bunch of teenagers together, there’s always someone poking someone,” Reeves said. “But during the Veterans Day ceremony, the Hauser students are always respectful.”
After the hour-long ceremony at Hauser concludes, veterans involved in the presentation will be invited to the Willow Leaves Restaurant, 326 Jackson St. Those who arrive at about 9:15 a.m. will be invited to sit with a group led by Susan Thayer Fye to enjoy a free breakfast, Willow Leaves co-owner Vicki Tedder said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
