News : Vinton-Shellsburg pulls out all the stops for Veterans

Dennis Miller is presented a check by Kelly Steffen for the AMVETS

Rita Moore is presented a check for $750 in recognition of all the quilts she has sewn for veterans

Clarence Hawkins was presented a Quilt of Valor

It was a looooong ceremony for this little fella

Hands down the Veteran's Assembly is the best event put together by the Vinton-Shellburg Schools each November 11.

Held in the Washington Middle School the school pulls out all of the stops for area veterans. Each student in the district attends as well as their teachers. Area veterans that want to attend, along with their families, are all welcome to join the schoolchildren in the middle school gymnasium.

The students begin by escorting each of the veterans down the middle aisle and to the front where there are seats reserved for them. During the ceremony, the veterans introduce themselves and identify their respective branches.

Students prepare special patriotic performances for the crowd in honor of the veterans as well.

For the last several years, the ceremony has included a presentation by the Quilts of Valor program to a deserving veteran who has been touched by war. This year Clarence Hawkins received a quilt. Hawkins went into the United States Army in 1952 at the age of 17. Training at Fort Leonard, Missouri he trained in heavy equipment. Following this, he was shipped to Southern France where he built airstrips and roads. He was transferred from the Army after 8 months and then joined the Air Force, ranking as Sp3. He served his entire Air Force career in France. Hawkins is the only remaining member of his group at 86 years old.

This year there was special recognition given to Rita Moore, of Vinton. Moore has sewn more than 100 quilts at her own expense for the Quilts of Valor program. Her desire to gift the quilts was recognized by the area Veterans. The VFW Post 8884, Legion Post 57, and the AMVETS #218 organizations presented Moore with a $750 check toward her projects.

Kelly Steffen also presented a check for $2,500 to the area AMVETS through donations made via the Sweats for Vets fundraiser. 

To view all of the pictures in a video format, click here!