MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry High School students honored those who served in the military Monday during a Veterans Day assembly at the school.

Martins Ferry High School hosted the event. Veterans were in attendance, the high school marching band performed, speakers spoke and videos honoring veterans were shown.

Christine Lewis, advisor to the National Honor Society, sets up the program to honor veterans each year. She said it was a chance to honor the men and women who served the country. NHS invites veterans who are family members of students at the school to come and educate students about Veterans Day while students and staff pay their respects.

“I think it’s very important because we have to respect them.” Lewis said. “What they did for our nation, but also a pride in our nation that I think veterans exhibit best.”

She added that the assembly is a great opportunity for the school to educate students by having a veteran speak about the things they have experienced, why this nation is so important to them and to why it is important to protect the country’s freedoms.

She also thanked family members of veterans, as they have also made sacrifices by spending time with their family members in the military.

NHS President Julianna Miller spoke about the history of Veterans Day and how it got its name Armistice Day because of the commemorative gestures that all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the famous end of hostilities in the First World War at 11 a.m. November 11, 1918. Today, November 11 is recognized as Veterans Day in the United States.

In 1939, World War II broke out in Europe and shattered the dream that World War I was the war to end all wars, she said.

“Of the 16 million Americans who served in the armed forces during World War II, more than 400,000 died. » she said. “U.S. Representative Edward H. Reese of Kansas proposed legislation changing the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day to honor all those who have served America in all wars.”

After Miller’s speech, veteran Kirk Roth spoke about his experience and military journey. He went to school to train as a combat medic and traveled to three different war zones.

He said a lot of good and bad results come from being in the military, such as having free education and the ability to serve the country in different ways, but also physical and mental problems that follow.

Roth played a video for students showing two veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. Afterwards, he explained that when people are having a bad day, they should think about what soldiers in the army went through. For example, he remembered a man dying in his arms while serving as a combat medic.

“I wouldn’t give up the career I had in the army for anything in the world. I learned a lot”, Roth said. “I had a lot of fun.”

Superintendent Jim Fogle said Veterans Day is a perfect opportunity for the school to thank all veterans who have given citizens freedoms. He said he hopes the assembly will give veterans something to look forward to each year, and it’s a way for the school to honor them.

He urged attendees to thank veterans for what they have done for the country, especially students who have a family member in the military or have served in the military.

Veterans Jim Bintz, Ron Green and Roth said they felt honored that the school recognized them and invited them to the assembly.

“Sacrifice is important” » said Green. “There is no better or greater sacrifice than for your country, its people and their way of life.”