Lakeland Salutes Local Veterans

Hundreds of students stood with their right-hands over their hearts as the Color Guard entered the Auditorium leading in nearly 50 U.S. Military veterans. The Lakeland band then began to play the Star Spangled Banner.

The students have been honoring the military for five years now, but this celebration was by far the biggest, according to event coordinator and government teacher Brian Howe. He said students showed up in force to pay tribute to the veterans in attendance including recent Lakeland graduate and current Marine Leighton Christie.

"I think every day should be Veterans Day," Howe said. "It's important for us to say thank you for their service, and their sacrifice."

Howe and local veteran Joe Salvia started the event, originally pitched as a means to get kids involved with veterans, and Howe signed on to coordinate the event.

This year, the Huron Valley Optimist Club provided food, coffee and water for the veterans who got to enjoy breakfast with several of the students before the ceremony.

At the end, students formed two rows down the hallway leading from the rear of the auditorium to the meeting room and gave a standing ovation to the veterans.

Lakeland Teacher and Navy veteran was the guest speaker. He shared his personal story with students, telling them how he was recruited, why he joined and why he was honored to be a part of the event Thursday.

Last year Rupp and his friend U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Joshua Harrison gave a presentation to White Lake Middle School students on the importance of Veterans Day. On Thursday, Rupp told the crowd Harrison had been deployed to Afghanistan.

"He is over there right now, leading convoys as we speak," he said.

Rupp said joining the military was a good option for him when he was 17 and didn't know what to do with his life.

After joining the Navy, Rupp said he gained a respect for those who serve, "It wasn't until I actually earned the uniform, that I understood what it meant," he said.