Winnebago salutes Veterans with breakfast and ceremony

By Doug Schroder

Editor

WINNEBAGO – Veterans were honored with a breakfast and ceremony during the Veterans Day activities held at Winnebago High School on Wednesday, Nov. 11. It all started off with a breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. that included eggs, biscuits and gravy, sausage, fruit and a choice of coffee, milk, orange juice or water. The breakfast was followed by an assembly in the gym starting at 9 a.m. Members of the Winnebago Middle School Choir sang patriotic songs for the breakfast crowd as they ate, while the 8th Grade Brass Quintet accompanied the choir with music.

Over 120 Veterans attended the event.

After the Color Guard presented the flags at the beginning of the 9 a.m. assembly, the high school choir and band performed the Battle Hymn of the Republic. WHS Principal Ronald Gruber then spoke the opening remarks, followed by the band and choir performing the Star Spangled Banner.

Faculty Veterans were then announced, then Middle School Principal Cathy Finley spoke about the Veterans attending that day.

After the choir and band played Salute to America’s Finest, Ronald Gruber then read the names of active duty members from Winnebago.

Scott Whitney, who portrays Ulysses S. Grant, was the keynote speaker and then gave a speech.

Colors were then retired followed by the playing of Taps by WHS students Colin Toohey and Alex Bolhous to close out the ceremony.

The high school gym was virtually packed as many came to join in on the ceremony.

Mary Gross would like to keep her records up to date of the active Veterans from Winnebago. Contact her at 815-335-7534 to add any names to the list.