Fremd pays tribute to veterans at assembly
Even before entering Fremd High School, the invited veterans were greeted with hundreds of small, green flags, each with a note of thanks written by a student.
At the afternoon assembly Wednesday, Nov. 11, each veteran was introduced and escorted to his seat, with the Fremd High School symphony orchestra playing in the background. About halfway through the list of names, the entire auditorium audience made up of students and staff was standing and applauding as each name was read.
The mayor of Palatine, a state representative, and several members of District 211's board of education were in attendance, but the true stars of the day were the 25 veterans present. They were honored with a color guard, more songs from the orchestra and choir, and a video of students and staff thanking the vets for their service.
Fremd High School Technology Coordinator Keith Sorensen spoke of his service and encouraged students to follow their calling, and ended by asking for the audience to give veterans a sincere thanks, which led to a standing ovation lasting several minutes.
The event concluded with an announcement of the total amount of money raised by the student body, with some individual classes raising more than $1,000.
A check for $10,033 was presented to a representative of The Soldiers Project, an organization dedicated to ensuring veterans and their families receive needed free and confidential mental health services.
• Editors note: This article was contributed by Rebecca Rolph.