The Adair County High School Cadet Corps will honor Veterans Day with a program that brings the community together in a powerful and meaningful way.
This year’s event will spotlight six local veterans who were willing to share their stories of service and sacrifice with the cadet corps. These veterans’ accounts offer a firsthand look into the dedication and bravery that define our nation’s heroes.
“I want the student body to know that when they see someone wearing a veteran hat that more than likely they have stories similar to these and realize that it’s not what you see in the movies,” said Krystal Redmon, Cadet Corps Instructor.
The program not only honors veterans but also gives students an opportunity to take an active role in preserving local history. As part of their preparation, cadets have spent time interviewing and writing about the experiences of local veterans. By documenting these personal accounts, the cadets are helping ensure that the voices of area service members are heard and remembered by future generations.
“There will be a missing man table ceremony to honor the missing or imprisoned military service members,” said Redmon. The table, which is often seen in restaurants around Veterans Day, is set in a specific way with each item having a significant meaning.
“Kids go into these restaurants that do this [table], and they don’t understand what it means,” said Redmon.
Through the ceremony and the storytelling project, students gain a deeper understanding of the real meaning of Veterans Day, one that goes far beyond history books and classroom lessons. The cadets learn how service shapes lives, families, and communities.
Redmon said she reached out to the local VFW chapter and asked if there were any veterans who would be willing to share their stories with the cadet corps. She was pleased that six volunteered to do so. The veterans were given the option to write their own story or to speak to the Cadet Corps and have the students write the story for them.
“This will be an ongoing project for the Cadet Corps, not just program specific,” Redmon said. “Any veteran who is willing to share their story is welcome to come to the classroom any time.”
All veterans are encouraged to attend the ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 13. Refreshments will be served to the veterans beginning at 8 a.m. in the Adair County High School library. The program will begin at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium. There will be special seating for all veterans who attend. Parking will be available behind the gym for anyone who may need assistance.
The Cadet Corps students have spent weeks preparing and will conduct the entire ceremony. Each student chose the portion of the program that they wanted to lead.
The public is invited to attend. For further information, contact Krystal Redmon at 270-384-2751 or krystal.redmon@adair.kyschools.us.
