Platteview High School hosted the annual Veterans Day celebration on Friday, November 11th, 2022 in honor of the men and women who served and still serve our country. The program began with Jacob Moody playing “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes through the gym. After that, the colors were presented by local VFW Post 9558. 

The program had many musical features. As per tradition, the Platteview band performed “The Armed Forces Salute” as the Platteview Central Junior Honors Society carried the flags of each branch of the military. The band also performed “Lest We Forget” by James Swearington. The song had a “Taps” melody solo played by senior trumpet Sean Laughlin. This year PHS proudly welcomed first year vocal music director Morgan Kroll as she directed The Trojan Singers in “The Star Spangled Banner” as well as “Homeland” by Z. Randall Stroope. “Homeland” was written in dedication to Stroope’s own father who was a prisoner of war and walked the Bataan Death March. Kroll’s former college professor and director of music at Peru State College, Dr. Matt Hill, attended and performed at the event. 

In years past, local community member Jim Jensen read roll call of all veterans and active duty men and women in attendance. He told each of these individuals, “I salute you.” Since Jensen’s passing this past summer, this year’s Veterans Program program featured A Jim Jensen Legacy Tribute in his honor. Every veteran and active duty individual stood up and gave Mr. Jensen his final salute together. 

This year, his son and PHS teacher Scott Jensen, took over the roll call duty. 

The Jensen family was also honored by Suzette Perry from the Daughters of the American Revolution. Perry gifted the Jensen family a framed American flag that flew outside the Daughters of the American Revolution capital building in Washington.

The program hosted many speakers, including guest speaker was Bill Williams, co-founder of Patriotic Productions. Patriotic Productions is a nonprofit organization with a goal of honoring all veterans and preserving their legacy. To accomplish this goal, they have funded veteran memorial flights to Washington D.C., created 19 state memorials, a national memorial on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and created traveling exhibits that are displayed across the country. This week, they brought their Remembering The Fallen Memorial to Platteview High School to be displayed in the New Commons. The program came to a close with the performance of “Taps” by former Platteview Central Band Director, Marla Janak. 

To release the audience, president of the senior class, Bailey Korenoski, thanked everyone for coming and wished them safe travels home after the reception in the commons. The Remembering The Fallen Memorial was the center of the ending reception before all of the veterans and their families headed to enjoy their discounts and gatherings.