Gillett salutes local veterans

With words and gestures echoed in communities across the nation, the Gillett School District on Nov. 11 honored veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, active and retired, living and dead.

Students and community members, including about 50 veterans, packed the school gymnasium as the various classes gave presentations, sang songs and read poems in commemoration of the day of peace and good will, originally known as Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918.

In 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all veterans, and President Dwight Eisenhower delivered the first Veterans Day proclamation, said Gillett’s representatives to Badger Boys State and Badger Girls State, Elsa Limberg, Bella Matczak and Virgil Herzog.

Curt Angeli, principal of Gillett Elementary School, taught the audience the sign language for the words “Pledge of Allegiance,” saying they translate literally as “This is from my lips, written in stone, I promise to support.”

“When we talk about what the meaning of Veterans Day is, and we talk about patriotism and loving our country, we have to say it in words that everyone can understand,” Angeli said, addressing the veterans in attendance. “Sometimes it’s not just the words, it’s the meaning behind them, and hopefully today you hear not only our words of gratitude but the meaning and thankfulness that truly comes from our heart, thank you to our veterans.”

A reception for veterans and their families was held in the school commons afterward.