Plains School welcomes vets

Students of Plains School honored former military members for an early Veterans Day observance with a special concert, goodies from students, and verbal accolades from the school superintendent.

Eleven veterans from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard attended the "Honoring All Who Served" ceremony held in the school gymnasium last Wednesday afternoon. 

"Even though today is not officially Veterans Day, we gather to recognize our great nation and the brave men and women of our armed services that defend it," said Superintendent Thom Chisholm at the start of the ceremony. The high school band opened the commemoration with the "Star-Spangled Banner," followed by each of the military service songs. The veterans in attendance stood when their service song was played. 

"I thought it was so lovely," said Samantha Bebb, a retired Army lieutenant colonel who moved to Plains in August after 20 years in the military. "It was really nice that the school went to such an effort for the vets, especially since they're so short staffed," said Bebb, 44, who was born and raised in White Salmon, Washington, and has a daughter in ninth grade and a son in fifth grade at Plains School.

The school has put on a ceremony for the veterans for almost 10 years, but this was the first time for Bebb of Plains and Bob Gresser of Thompson Falls. The 84-year-old Gresser, who served in the Army for two years, including Special Forces, was the oldest veteran in attendance.

This was the second time for Bernard Parker to participate in the school ceremony. The 82-year-old Parker served in the Navy for 20 years, retiring as a senior chief in 1983 and attended the event in his dress blue uniform. After his active duty career, he worked as a civilian in support of the Trident submarine program at Bangor Naval Base in Washington for seven additional years. 

"I really enjoyed the bands; they put a lot of work into it," said Parker, who served part of his career as a "bubblehead," the nickname given to crew members of submarines duty. Bob Kunch, 82, and also a Thompson Falls resident, also served on a submarine during his five years in the Navy. "I feel the kids at the school put their whole heart into saying thank you to the vets. I think it's a shame that more veterans didn't show up," said Bunch, who had been to all but one of them. 

"As I pondered this auspicious occasion, I  contemplated the words that would describe or inspire our minds to recognize the solemnity and importance of our celebration. I found myself writing down words such as: valor, honor, duty, integrity, courage, pride, safety, dignity, decorum, loyalty, freedom, patriotism, sacrifice, and many more. These are powerful descriptors that stand on their own and provide significant meaning to honoring our veterans," said Chisholm, whose brother, William L. G. Chisholm, is a retired Coast Guard chief warrant officer.

Jesse Jermyn, who heads the maintenance staff at the school, was the youngest veteran of the group. Jermyn, 40, was a member of the Air Force for 20 years, retiring in 2020 as a master sergeant. 

"I thought they did a bang up job. They always do such a good job," said Plains resident 81-year-old Bill Beck, who retired from the Navy as a senior chief after 26 years and has been to each of the school's Veterans Day programs. "For being short on staff, that was still a pretty amazing presentation," said Beck.

The Family and Consumer Sciences class, headed this year by Debbie Brown, made 60 boxes of baked goods made by Brown and the students over a three-day period for the visiting vets. Most of the extra goodie boxes went to the VFW in Plains. The elementary school students had an assortment of artwork on the walls to pay tribute to the veterans, including a large paper chain American flag by Cindy Gumm's second-graders. Chisholm told the crowd they nearly decided not to hold the event because of a lack of staff this year, but he said he was glad they held it. 

The veteran guests included six members of the Army, four Navy, one Air Force and one Coast Guardsman. Entertainment came from the high school and junior high bands, the high school choir, and songs from the fifth and sixth grade students. Sixth grade students Kiara Brown, Makayla MacNair and Madison Hill read their Patriot's Pen essays aloud.

Ron Kilbury, commander of VFW Post 3596 in Plains, said he appreciated the efforts of the school staff and students. "These events that the schools put on are important to remind the kids that service to others, whether it is to the community, the nation or other nations, can make all of our lives better," said Kilbury, who served in the Army and the Navy. "I appreciate these  grateful gestures for all those who are not around to receive them. I try to attend the events to represent those who are unable," said Kilbury. The favorite part of the program for Marv Tanner, a soldier from 1970 and 1971, was the combined rendition of the "American Song," which he considered "awesome."

Plains resident Greg Davis, 59, received a special thanks from Chisholm, who apologized for overlooking him at last year's ceremony. Davis served in the Army, retiring in 1998. American Legion Post 52 Commander Ken Matthiesen, who served in the Navy from 1967 to 1971 and the Army from 1971 to 1995, retiring as a first sergeant, said he was "greatly honored" that the school had the program for the vets.