With Veteran’s Day landing on a Monday this year, Manitowoc Lincoln High School has decided to run their third annual Veteran’s Day Program tomorrow.
We sat down with Social Studies teacher, Carl Sieracki, who is in charge of organizing the event, Sieracki told us that the event will consist of reading regarding dedication, which is one of the school’s core values, as well as a speech from Shawn Bobby, a retired Non-Commissioned Officer from the US Army. The students who adopted a veteran will also be marching them in, in front of the 1,500 student crowd.
There are several staff members at Lincoln that have served in the Military, something the Sieracki says makes a difference. “It’s interesting because when you find out they are vetyeran’s it kinda clicks,” he explained. “Their approach is a little bit different…In some cases it’s the discipline, and in others it’s a more world view that you get.”
We also spoke with Senior Paige Franz and Freshman Abagail Riederer who have adopted a veteran. Paige adopted a man named Harold Kummer, who has been a recurring guest for this event. Paige was put in charge of contacting Kummer, and said it was “Cool to see that side of it, instead of just seeing him speak. I got to see a more personal side of him, which I thought was really cool.”
Abagail is bringing a family member with a very interesting story about her time in the service. She told us, her Great Aunt Hildegard, who was a part of the Women’s Corps in 1943 was the secretary for someone involved in the Manhattan Project. For those who are unaware, the Manhattan Project was responsible for the creation of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
This being the third year of Lincoln High honoring Veterans in this way, Sieracki says he often wonders why they didn’t do it sooner. “We are so proud to be able to do this, and expand it every year,” Sieracki said. “It’s become a huge part of the first quarter for us.”
Doors will open to the JFK Fieldhouse at 9:30, with a coffee social taking place prior to the ceremony, which begins at 10:25. The presentation will run for about an hour and a half, and will be followed by a luncheon for the veterans, as well as a very special surprise, that Sieracki made Paige and Abagail keep secret.
