Students offer thanks in Plains

A new group of people were in charge of the Veteran's Appreciation Luncheon at Plains School this year, but the enthusiasm and heartfelt dedication to give thanks to the military veterans hadn't waivered.

"It was really, really outstanding," said Joe Eisenbrandt, a Navy Vietnam War veteran who has attended the school's appreciation luncheon all five years.

The program was started by teachers Keith Baker and Linda Knight, who retired last year. This year, Nichole Cockrell and George Sherwood took over coordinating the event. Students from seventh grade and seniors from the Jobs For Montana Graduates class teamed up to serve the 23 veterans and their guests last Wednesday in the school's Family and Consumer Sciences classroom. The students served ham and bean soup, chicken and dumplings, taco soup, and brownies and chocolate chip bars for dessert.

There were veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam War and wars in the Middle East, and representation from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The only Marine Corps veteran was Dr. Jack Lulack, who attended only the concert following the luncheon. Two veterans even donned their uniforms for the event.

Marie Corbin, who served 20 years of broken service in the Army from 1960 to 2002, wore her master sergeant dress uniform. This year, her granddaughter, Hallie Corbin, was one of the servers. Corbin's son, Richard, who couldn't make it to the event, retired from the Army after 24 years.

Chris Nichols, the Thompson Falls chief of police, wore his Montana Air National Guard uniform. As a member of the 120th Air Wing in Great Falls, Nichols has been in the military for 29 years and has attained the rank of senior master sergeant.

The veterans at the luncheon ranged in age from 25-year-old Jon Zigler, who was part of the Army National Guard from 2010 to 2016, to Glen Rummel, an 85-year-old Korean War soldier. Vets included three Navy members of the submarine service – affectionately nicknamed "Bubbleheads" by themselves. Bernard Parker and Bob Kunch, both of Thompson Falls, served on submarines. All of Parker's sea time from 1963 to 1983 took place on the submersible vessels. Ron King of Plains called a submarine his home for his entire four years in the Navy.

"It's a great honor to thank the veterans for their service," said Sherwood, who started as a Plains teacher in September. All 40 of his students wrote thank you letters to the veterans. Four of them, Romeo McCarren, John Thurston, Teirainy Bellinger, and Emory Ercanbrack, read their letters aloud at the luncheon. Artwork from the elementary school students honoring the vets were displayed at the luncheon and in the school foyer.

"I love this. Plains is the only place where they honor veterans like this," said Ken Matthiesen, who served in both the Army and Navy. Wayne King was one of five Air Force veterans at the luncheon. He met his wife, Shirley, who grew up in Paradise, while she was teaching military members' children at Okinawa, Japan. Their son, Darin, is also an Air Force veteran and the post commander at the American Legion in Paradise.

The veterans were also treated to a concert in the gymnasium after the luncheon. More than 200 students, teachers, community members, and veterans attended the Veterans Day Assembly. Under the direction of music teacher Brittany Nichols, the middle school and high school bands, and the high school choir performed more than a dozen patriotic pieces. The choir sang each of the service songs. Veterans stood when their service song came up. During the assembly, Blakely Lakko and Peyton Wasson, both seventh-graders, read aloud their Patriot Pen Essay entries.

"The music was great. Both bands did an excellent job and the choir did a great job on the military songs," said the 75-year-old Eisenbrandt.

After the assembly, the students gathered outside around the school flagpole, where Plains VFW Post 3596 members Ronald Kilbury, who served in the Army and Navy, and Bob Kunch took down the worn flag, folded it and presented it to Plains School Superintendent Thom Chisholm. Joe Eisenbrandt and Montana National Guard Private 1st Class Cameron Hill, a senior at Plains High School, helped raise a new ensign. Air Force veteran Jimmie Allison played "Taps" as the old flag was brought down.