Beech Tree News Network

Students from local schools and community members gathered last week to honor veterans for their military service.  The annual community-wide Veterans' Day program was held Friday, November 10, at Butler County High School.  Veterans' Day was Saturday, November 11.  The event - "Butler County Salutes Our Veterans" is organized by the Butler County School District in cooperation with various veterans' groups in the community. 

Butler County Schools' Superintendent Scott Howard welcomed the crowd - including the more than 1,000 students in attendance.  Howard recognized Linda Tyree for her work in organizing the event and reflected briefly on how this Veterans' Day is difficult for him due to his father's military service and death a few years ago. 

"Thanks to all veterans and their families for what they have done," said Howard.  "They should be celebrated more than just one day in November."

The Parading of the Colors was conducted by the BCHS NJROTC Color Guard.  The Pledge of Allegiance was led by North Butler Elementary student Winnie Henderson.  Shera Lindsey sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "My Old Kentucky Home was performed by the BCHS Choir under the direction of Travis Lowe.  Heath Cardwell, Oak Ridge Christian Academy student, gave the invocation.  A patriotic medley was performed by the MES preschoolers, led by Amanda McGuyer and Denise Ballinger.

Lynda Knight, of VFW Post 5837 Auxiliary, announced the Buddy Poppy Good Citizens.  They are:  Lydia Brown, Maggie Childers, Kayleigh Deweese, Caitlin Marie Hughes, Megan Parker, Gracie Sublett.

Art for Heroes winners are:  1st Place-Rebecca Rojas; 2nd Place-Blake Inglis; 3rd Place-Briley Webster; Honorable Mention-Brooklyn Kimble and Parker Smith. 

The BCHS Dance Team performed "I'm Still A Soldier" by Trace Adkins.  Chelsea Gilpin and Derrick Veasey directed the team.

Jennifer Odle, of VFW Post 5837 Auxiliary, recognized Connie Holman Greathouse and Sharone Nash as VFW Veterans of the Year.

Jane Smith, of the Butler County DAR, recognized Horace Chapman as their Veteran of the Year. 

Melanie Hunt, Green River DAR Regent, recognized the Keown brothers - Royce, Dean and Bobby Keown as their Veterans of the Year.  They joined their older brother, the late Floyd Keown, in sharing the award.

The keynote speaker for the event was Robert Hill, retired Chief Warrant Officer in the United States Army.  Hill said he was initially asked to speak at the Veterans' Day program by his son Logan, a 5th grade student at MES. 

Below is biographical information about CW2 (retired) Robert Hill, provided by Linda Tyree:   

Hill graduated from Meade County High School in May of 1994. He enlisted in the United States Army in July of that very same year. After serving for over twenty years, Chief Warrant Officer Hill retired in November of 2016. He is now serving his community in other ways, working full time at Henkel Corporation (formerly Sun Products) in Bowling Green, Kentucky and volunteering at Belmont General Baptist Church and as a mentor at Morgantown Elementary School. Officer Hill served in fourteen different units during his military career and has done tours on three separate continents and been stationed in nine different states. He has served in Calvary Units, Military Intelligence Units, Aviation Units and Special Operation Units. He and his wife Kristina have been married for almost 16 years and have four children, Vanessa is a junior at Troy University in Alabama, Logan is a fifth grader at MES, Parker is a first grader at MES, and Reagan is almost five and attends Preschool at MES.

Hill began his remarks by referencing a number - 623,995 - a number he later said reflected the number of military service members who have died from World War I to the present.  He described as "heroes" those who have served - "the brave men and women who chose to do what others would not."  Hill said these veterans have "stood in the gap" when asked to do so and they "did not take a knee." 

Hill, who spent 1,100 days in combat zones in multiple countries, said it was a "privilege and honor to serve my country." 

For Hill, two simple words describe his view of veterans - service and sacrifice.  In talking about service, Hill referenced previous generations of family members who served in the military and felt it was their "responsibility…one generation to the next…a calling." 

Hill also spoke of sacrifice, specifically the sacrifices made by families as "a mother or father kept it together" while their spouse was serving.  They are the "unacknowledged hero."  Hill said children have to watch parents leave for service sometimes not knowing where they were going or when they would return.   

"This is true sacrifice," said Hill. 

Jennifer Odle, from Butler County Piecemakers, recognized Quilt of Valor recipients.  They are:  Sharone Nash, Doug Odle, Ernie Lee Hatcher, Jim Cartwright, Michael W. Porter, Robert Estaver, Boyd Truelove, Don McKinney, Troy Abbott, Danny Mitchell, Wendell C. Embry, Connie Holman Greathouse, and Larry Wilson. 

Odle describe the quilts as a "project of the heart" and thanked Darlene Scott for her work in getting the organization started. 

The BCHS Band, under the direction of Jason Ausbrooks, performed a "Salute to America's Finest" with a rendition of the songs representing each branch of service. 

Doug Odle read the names of those veterans in attendance. 

The BCHS Jazz Band, under the direction of Phil Ashby (featuring soloist Eli Johnson) played "God Bless the USA." 

Bryant McClellan played "Taps" following a moment of silence to remember those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice. 

The colors were retired with by the BCHS NJROTC Color Guard.