West River Eagle

Dupree School honors Veterans



Each year Dupree School takes Veteran’s Day as a fully ‘teachable moment’ and holds school and gets the entire school involved in learning about the branches of service and battles/wars, singing patriotic songs, and by working together to share an appreciation for the freedoms that the veterans have provided for people.  DHS English teacher Gnene Fordyce, a works with her senior class and organizes the program and decorates the gym while Rex Laughlin works with students throughout the elementary and high school to provide moving music for the program.

The program opened with the Wakinyan Maza Drum Group performing and that was followed by the official Post of Colors by the American Legion Post 124 Dupree Honor Guard.  Once the flags were in place, Kelci Bends sang the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ and then Tre White Wolf sang the ‘Lakota Flag Song’.

A welcome and introductory remarks were given by Superintendent Gail Swenson and Gnene Fordyce.  Next, Dupree seniors shared the history of each branch of the service.  The seniors who presented were:  Racheal Barrera, Alyssa Roark, Kelci Bends, Tayla Thorstenson, and CL Pederson.

Music enjoyed was provided by the elementary when they sang ‘Bless Our Troops’, the JH/HS choir that performed ‘American Tears’ (with special pieces done by Kelci Bends, Max Peacock, Isaac Brown, Malory Peacock, Erin Lemke, Megan Hinrichs, Mackenzie Longbrake, Shayna Farlee, and Sierra Eaton), and finally, when Kelci Bends sang the solo ‘Traveling Soldier’ for the audience.

The guest speaker, a DHS graduate and Army veteran, was Leo Bakeberg. He shared that he felt joining the service was a smart and honorable thing to do and that it was ‘easy’ and a great thing to do while ‘you’re trying to figure out what you want to be when you grow up’.  Basically, to be successful, ‘you just have to do what you’re told and you’ll finish at the top’.  Also, Bakeberg focused on the fact that to do well and truly understand what it’s like to be in the military, you have to know how to be a team member and always be there for your teammates and support each other through everything and never leave someone behind.

In closing the program, everyone joined the choir in singing ‘God Bless America’, then listened to the drum group perform the ‘Honor Song’, and then Post 124 retired the colors before lining up to be thanked and get handshakes from those present.

Gnene Fordyce gives a speech during the Veteran’s Day Program. Photo by Kathy Olsen

Leo Bakeberg, a DHS alum and an Army soldier, was the guest speaker for the Dupree School Veteran’s Day program. Photo by Patty Peacock

The DHS JH/HS Choir, under the direction of Rex Laughlin, performed a few songs. Photo by Kathy Olsen

Dupree veterans lined up to receive thank yous and handshakes from students and adults at the program. Photo by Patty Peacock

Tre White Wolf performed the Lakota Flag Song for the Veteran’s Day program. Photo by Patty Peacock

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