Southern Local School District Honors Veterans

RACINE-For the past nine years, the Southern Local School District has celebrated Veterans Day with an elaborate assembly to honor those that have served, and to give a much-deserved recognition to the local Veterans. This year’s assembly drew the largest crowd in the history of the event, which annually honors a local veteran for his service.

This year’s honored recipient was Mr. Paul Beegle, a World War II veteran.

Paul Beegle was born January 19, 1925 in Dorcas, Ohio just outside of Racine. Beegle noted, “There was no electricity and no television or computers. There was more time to visit, play ball, work in the fields, and time to wade in the creek.”

Mr. Beegle attended Racine Grade School and Racine High School, graduating in 1942. He was a student at Mountain State College for eight months before being drafted. He also attended nine weeks of clerical school at Camp Wallace, Texas and completed training in army administration work.

Mr. Beegle was inducted into the Army at Fort Hayes in Columbus on June 14, 1943 and was shipped overseas from Fort Lauson in Seattle, Washington. He served in O’ahu Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, and Carolina Islands with his final tour overseas in Okinaua, Japan.

Mr. Beegle served in the U.S. Army Headquarters Battery 586th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion as a Tec-5 mail clerk for the battalion. He received the Victory Medal, American Theater medal, Asiatic Pacific Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Last year he was honored with a Freedom Flight to Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. and was the honored speaker at the American Legion on Memorial Day. This comes amid many other honors he was bestowed.

Mr. Beegle was the Clerk-Treasurer for the Racine School District for 13 and one half years.

The assembly began with a welcoming address from event organizer and Southern High principal Daniel Otto. Special guests included nearly twenty veteran’s, many of which were members of the Racine American Legion. Those in attendance consisted of the Southern Local student body, veterans and their families, and members of the community.

Mr. Otto moved through the crowd allowing each Veteran to state their name, rank, division of armed services, and dates that they served in the military. Members of the American Legion color guard raised the various flags as the Southern High School marching band under the direction of Chad Dodson played the National Anthem.

Student Council President Kevin Perry, led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance. Master of Ceremonies and Southern Administrative Assistant Scott Wolfe gave a speech entitle “Call of Duty”.

“Our objective today is to honor and recognize our veterans for their service; and to support them as they supported us in fighting for our freedom, and fighting for the fundamental rights of the United States of America,” said Wolfe. “This annual Veterans Day Celebration–and I do say celebration, for we celebrate you the veteran–who has given our community, young and old alike, the opportunity to come together and publicly acknowledge and thank you for all that you have done.”

Wolfe then asked for a round of applause for the Veterans.

“In my speech I hope to educate our students of the meanings of certain rituals they will see in the assembly today. Teachers, I hope that perhaps you can elaborate on these facts and discuss them in your classes. While educating our students, I also hope to effectively link the meaning of these rituals in a way to honor you –the veteran!”

“Our Flag, the Tolling of the Bell, The presentation of the Colors, and the meaning of TAPS are among the topics I will discuss today.”

Wolfe tied in the meaning of each topic to the sacrifice and dedication that veterans all across the land made to secure freedom for America.

Wolfe next introduced guest speaker Denny Evans, a Vietnam War veteran, and spokesman for the American Legion. Evans is also a longtime member of the Southern Local Board of Education.

Evans speech was titled “Remembering Veterans”. He spoke of many different ways that students and citizens can pay tribute to Veterans. “A simple ‘Thank You’ means a lot to those of us who have served,” he said.

Evans continued, citing all the sacrifice that the American Soldier had given for the fundamental rights and freedoms that we celebrate today, referencing the frigid environment of “Valley Forge to the blistering jungles of Southeast Asia to the rugged conditions of the continuing conflict in Afghanistan.”

“Some volunteered, some did not,” he continued. “But they all made the sacrifice to defend the freedom of country and they all served proudly. Some gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

Following Evans’ speech, the First Grade students with assistance from music maestro Darren Jackson, Mr. Dodson, and the first grade teachers, sang ‘This Land is Your Land’ and ‘God Bless the USA’.

Traditionally, upon the request of Superintendent Tony Deem, who began the honors-ceremony when he was principal, the assembly begins outside with a mood of fanfare and celebration. Then festivities move inside to the gymnasium where a more somber ceremony takes place to recognize all veterans and fallen heroes.

As the crowd filed into the high school gym, the Southern band played upbeat patriotic songs.

Once inside, Wolfe asked everyone to stand as the color guard presented the colors. Veteran’s Day quotes were then read by members of the National Honor society—Bethany Theiss, Ashley Baker, Chais Michael, and Gage Smith.

Next, Superintendent Deem made this year’s special award presentation to Mr. Paul Beegle. After Deem read a script of Beegle’s accomplishments, Beegle was welcomed with a long standing ovation.

Mr. Otto produced a video-powerpoint presentation that played to the tune of Lee Brice’s patriotic “I Drive Your Truck” song. Next, Mr. Deem, who himself served a tour of duty in Iraq, and Southern Technical Director, Edward Baker, a Marine, gave roll call of those Meigs Countians who lost their lives in World War II, the Korena War, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and the Iraqui Conflict. As each name was read the bell tolled, creating an eerie but impressive sense of reality and honor.

Kalynn Seymour, Student Council Vice President tolled the bell and Brynn Harris, Jr. Class President, extinguished the more-than-100 candles lit in honor of the fallen soldiers.

Jacob Hoback and A.J. Roush, band members, played TAPS. The color guard then retired the colors as Mr. Otto ended the program with closing commendations to the Veterans and praises to the student body for great behavior. Otto then invited Veterans and their families to an adjoining room for refreshments.