Thank You Veterans!

Each and every year I am impressed with the respect the Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton student body and staff display for our communities' veterans. Today there were several veterans from our communities that privileged us with their visit so that we might show them our respect for their service.

Personally, I would like to thank Mr. Howard VanOtterloo and our students for making this a priority and possibility. Our veteran's are so important to our historical and present success as a nation. Mikaela Wehking, a former student and current enlistee, spoke to our student body and shared the following poem:

It is the Soldier, not the minister who has given us the freedom of religion.

It is the Soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of press.

It is the Soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the Soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the Soldier, not the lawyer, who has given us a right to a fair trial.

It is the Soldier, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the Soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.

~Author - Charles M. Province 1970

Although all may not agree with all of those words, those that have served have provided us with the great United States in which we currently reside. Thank you veterans!